The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, is the largest federal food assistance program. There are 42 million people who utilize SNAP benefits nationwide, including about 160,000 Nebraskans. SNAP helps millions of people put food on the table, and more than 40% of the beneficiaries are children.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that they have updated the formula they use to calculate SNAP benefits. This means there will be a 21% increase in SNAP benefits across the nation. The average benefit will rise from about $4.25 per person per day to about $5.45 per person per day in 2022.
Due to Covid, SNAP benefits had been increased 15%, with that increase ending September 30. This new increase will take effect October 1, 2021. You do not need to take action to receive this increase if you already participate in SNAP.
If you are not currently receiving SNAP benefits but think you might qualify, visit the ACCESSNebraska portal for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. (Remember that computers are available at the library if you do not have one at home.) You will click on Economic Assistance (available in English and Spanish), then complete the Economic Assistance Application. If you are having difficulty with the application, contact the Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) office, 1028 E 3rd St, Alliance, 762-4523; or the Health and Human Services (DHHS) office, 411 Black Hills Ave, Alliance, 763-2900. If your application is rejected, that doesn’t mean you do not qualify. It usually means you’ve omitted some information on the application and it didn’t process correctly. NCAP or DHHS can also help with that.
Once your application has been processed through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and you are found eligible, you will receive an Electronic Balance Transfer (EBT) card. This works like a debit card. Each month you are eligible, benefits will be reloaded onto the card, which you can use to buy food at stores. You will use your PIN to confirm the purchase just like you would with a debit card.
In May 2021 a change was made that allows families to take small pay increases without fear of losing their SNAP benefits. The new monthly gross income eligibility limit was increased from 130% of the Federal Poverty Level to 165%. For a household size of one, that means a maximum monthly gross income of $1,770; for two people the income is $2,395; for three people $3,020; and four is $3,643.
What can be purchased with SNAP benefits? Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereal, pop, juice, snack foods, and vegetable seeds and plants. SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy liquor, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, pet food, cleaning products, paper products, hygiene items, cosmetics, or restaurant food. Grocery store scanners keep track of which items can be paid for with the EBT card and which ones must be cash purchases.
Sometimes we hear about fraud in the SNAP program. Fraud would occur if someone swapped their benefits for cash, bought ineligible items, or lied about income or assets on their application. USDA says that fraud accounts for about one-half of one percent of the benefits. This means that more than 99% of SNAP benefits are legitimately needed and used.
Food insecurity is a problem in America. SNAP helps low-income individuals and families who struggle to afford basic needs. When they have enough healthy food to eat, their limited resources can be used on rent, education, transportation, or other things the family needs. SNAP is one of the most successful programs we have to assist people who live in poverty in the United States.