SNAP Basics
What is SNAP?
SNAP—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—helps eligible people and families buy food. Benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, often called an EBT card.
What can SNAP buy?
SNAP can generally be used to buy food for your household, including fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products, breads and cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic drinks, seeds, and plants that produce food.
What usually cannot be purchased?
SNAP generally cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or supplements, medicines, hot prepared food sold for immediate consumption, or non-food household products. Some authorized programs and state-specific rules may differ.
How are benefits calculated?
Benefit amounts depend on household size, income and allowable deductions. A household with no net income may receive the maximum amount for its size. Many households receive less than the maximum.
Who runs SNAP?
SNAP is federally funded and administered by state agencies. Your state agency accepts applications, determines eligibility, issues benefits and handles questions about your case.
Need help with an application?
Your state agency handles applications and individual cases.
Find Your State ResourcesCommon questions
An EBT card is the payment card used to access SNAP benefits. It works at authorized stores much like a debit card, but it can only be used for eligible purchases.
Unused benefits may remain available beyond the month in which they were issued, subject to program rules. Check with your state agency or EBT provider for the rules that apply to your card.
Many authorized retailers accept SNAP for eligible online grocery purchases. SNAP generally cannot pay delivery, service or convenience fees.
Apply through your state SNAP agency. Use this site’s state-resource page to find the official application portal, hotline and local office locator.