Food Stamps are a source to buy food, for the deprived communities. It was established in 1939 by Henry Wallace, former Secretary of Agriculture. The new name of this federally sponsored program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), implemented by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administration. The compensations are awarded through individual State’s Social or Children and Family services program.
For many years, colored paper stamps or ticket were used, but now available in the form of voucher or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Both can be utilized to purchase a variety of products at maximum supermarkets. The purchasable products include nutritional supplements, juices, baby formula or even seeds for the garden. At the same time, these vouchers and cards cannot be used to pay for groceries or other household items.
This program annually assists over 40 million lower-earning Americans, helping most commonly those households that comprise children. In addition to this, the statistics reflect that around 9 percent of these food stamps are for senior citizen over 60 years of age. By and large, these stamps are believed to be a vital support for millions mostly children at risk of food insecurity or malnutrition. In the absence of this federal aid, these children and elderly will not manage to pay for essential nutritional necessities. SNAP is a leading program of the United States to combat domestic food shortage.
The Food and Nutrition program works in collaboration with the state agencies, supporting the families with children living on or below the poverty line, catering what they need and deserve. The program is helping them to take in fundamental nutrients and evade the diseases typically associated with malnutrition.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is not only reducing food insecurity among children, but it also has proven benefits associated with overall health, school achievements. Better child development is strongly tied with good nutrition, family income sustainability, progress at school and a healthy body. The SNAP is supporting all these factors while playing its role in reducing food insecurity among children.
With this program, states are able to offer supplemental foods to the children and help them grown as healthy Americans, who can positively contribute to the future society. This program extends support in the form of vouchers to the recipients with vouchers that can be used at food stores on purchasing mostly child-specific items. The crucial part is to determine eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
In order to be considered eligible for this program, one has to meet the following requirements.
• Applicants must take off deductions to establish if their net income makes them entitled for SNAP benefits.
• Employment requirements People between 18 and 50 are acceptable, on the condition that if they do not work and do not have dependent children.
• Immigrant Eligibility only those immigrants can obtain benefits from this program, who have lived in the US for five years at least, Children under the age of 18 and those immigrants who are receiving disability-related remuneration.
• Income unless a family unit is receiving Supplemental Security Income, TANF or general government assistance, it must go through an income test.
• Resources The maximum limit of per family proceeds is $2,250; however, a household with a minimum of one person of 60 years or above can have a countable income of up to $ 3’250.
• Special Rules for Elderly or Disabled these provisions include seniors, blind, handicapped veterans, spouse or children of such veteran, SSI beneficiaries, etc.
How to Apply for SNAP Assistance
The procedure to apply for food stamps in the US differs, depending on the locality. Some States allow you to submit the application process online on a website. Other States do not provide online information, requiring you to go in person to your local SNAP office, which is not difficult to locate. One can simply search for following terms in the government pages of the common telephone book
• Food Stamps, Human Services, Public Assistance, Social Security
Once you understand what documents you require to apply for SNAP in the State of your residence, visit a local SNAP Program office to collect an application form or apply online or print out your application and mail it into the address listed on the form. It is imperative to note that the USDA Food and Nutrition Service do not personally handle SNAP applications.
The form that one must fill out to be given the assistance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program requires the claimant to provide a broad variety of information. Prospective recipients must provide their full name, address and their Social Security Number at the top of the form, along with other personal information about themselves, their spouse and their children.
In addition to this necessary private information, one must give details of their present occupation and income to find out their possible eligibility for SNAP benefits. On top of this information about the employer and personal details, applicants are also asked to provide answers to a number of health coverage questions. Once the form is completed with all of the necessary information, it should be signed by and mailed into the address listed on the SNAP application or submitted in person.