SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Back in the day people used to refer to this program as food stamps.
In this post, you will learn everything there is to know about SNAP benefits, including how to sign up, what it takes to qualify, how much money you can get, and more.
Let’s take a closer look at what SNAP is all about.
What is SNAP?
SNAP is an aid program backed by the federal government. The program provides money in the form of food credits to low income families and other individuals that qualify.
Depending on where you live, you will have to sign up through your local state agency. Each state has its own way of signing up and administering payments.
In 2018, around 40 million people living in the U.S. received money from SNAP. That’s about one out of every ten people. So, if you are thinking about applying for SNAP assistance, you’re not alone.
How to Apply for SNAP
Signing up for SNAP benefits is not as easy as it should be. That’s because each state has its own office and sign up process. If you need to call them, you could be looking at long wait times on the phone. So your best bet is to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get things sorted out.
The first step is locating your local state agency, which you can do here. Then, once you click on the state where you live, you can view the phone number and website for your local state agency. Using California’s CalFresh program as an example, the number to call is 1-877-847-3663.
In some cases, like with New Jersey’s SNAP website, you can apply right online. But, the process could take up to 45 minutes.
How To Quality for SNAP
To qualify for SNAP, you must meet the following income requirements:
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income Amount |
| One Person | $1,041 |
| Two People | $1,410 |
| Three People | $1,778 |
| Four People | $2,146 |
| Five People | $2,515 |
| Six People | $2,883 |
| Seven People | $3,251 |
| Eight People | $3,620 |
| Additional Household Members | +$369/person |
For the full details on eligibility requirements, go here.
What Does SNAP Pay For?
SNAP is designed to pay for wholesome, nutritious food that you can get from the grocery store. Generally speaking, prepared foods (like fast-food), and non-essential items (like candy) are not covered.
How Much Money Does SNAP Pay?
SNAP pays from around $140 to $194 per household member. Here is a full breakdown of how much you can get from SNAP, depending on your household size.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly SNAP Payment |
| One Person | $194 |
| Two People | $355 |
| Three People | $509 |
| Four People | $646 |
| Five People | $768 |
| Six People | $921 |
| Seven People | $1,018 |
| Eight People | $1,164 |
| Additional Household Members | +$146/person |
As you can see, the more people you have in your home, the more money you can get from SNAP. That’s because of the simple fact that your grocery bill is more expensive when you have more mouths to feed.
Nothing is more important than making sure your family has food to eat. If you’re worried about having enough money to get the basic groceries you need, it’s probably time to see if you qualify for SNAP benefits.
