The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), codified at 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011–2036, which replaced the former Food Stamp Program, is the largest federal food assistance program in the United States. SNAP provides nutritional support to low-income individuals and families, the majority of whom live below the federal poverty line. It functions as a central component of the national social safety net aimed at reducing food insecurity and hunger in the United States.
Eligibility for SNAP is based on financial criteria, including household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guideline, as well as limits on assets and resources. Benefit amounts depend on household size, income, and the presence of elderly or disabled family members in the home.
SNAP benefits are distributed electronically through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which recipients use to purchase approved food items at authorized grocery stores and markets. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, the average SNAP participant received an estimated $170 per month in regular benefits in fiscal year 2024.
[Last reviewed in November of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]