{ "id": "R42505", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "R", "number": "R42505", "active": true, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "retrieved": "2023-10-11T04:03:47.005029", "id": "R42505_27_2023-09-08", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2023-09-08_R42505_0aac483a19f0fb2c38970c0aff49cab397909be2.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42505/27", "sha1": "0aac483a19f0fb2c38970c0aff49cab397909be2" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2023-09-08_R42505_0aac483a19f0fb2c38970c0aff49cab397909be2.html" } ], "date": "2023-09-08", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "R", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R42505", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "retrieved": "2023-10-11T04:03:47.003879", "id": "R42505_25_2022-10-04", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2022-10-04_R42505_a82dc705ab476046ef1f62b5a7bfa23fdfaac740.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42505/25", "sha1": "a82dc705ab476046ef1f62b5a7bfa23fdfaac740" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2022-10-04_R42505_a82dc705ab476046ef1f62b5a7bfa23fdfaac740.html" } ], "date": "2022-10-04", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "R", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R42505", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "retrieved": "2023-10-11T04:03:47.002277", "id": "R42505_23_2022-08-25", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2022-08-25_R42505_93373687ccdd11f4151c9211116f8638d6391b98.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42505/23", "sha1": "93373687ccdd11f4151c9211116f8638d6391b98" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2022-08-25_R42505_93373687ccdd11f4151c9211116f8638d6391b98.html" } ], "date": "2022-08-25", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "R", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R42505", "type": "CRS Report" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 580027, "date": "2018-04-11", "retrieved": "2018-04-11T22:05:31.387160", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "summary": "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, is designed primarily to increase the food purchasing power of eligible low-income households to help them buy a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet. This report describes the rules related to eligibility for SNAP benefits as well as the rules for benefits and their redemption. SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS). SNAP is authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. This law, formerly the Food Stamp Act of 1977, has since 1973 been reauthorized by the \u201cfarm bill,\u201d omnibus legislation that also typically includes the authorization of other federal agricultural policies and programs. The program was most recently reauthorized by the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79, enacted February 7, 2014). Many farm bill provisions expire in 2018, and the 115th Congress may undertake the next reauthorization of SNAP.\nSNAP eligibility and benefits are calculated on a household basis. Financial eligibility is determined through a traditional or a categorical eligibility path. Under traditional eligibility, applicant households must meet gross income, net income, and asset tests. Specifically, household gross monthly income (all income as defined by SNAP law) must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and household net (SNAP-specified deductions are subtracted) monthly income must be at 100% of the federal poverty level. The traditional asset rules are set at $2,000 per household (inflation adjusted). (Households that contain an elderly or disabled member have a higher asset limit and also do not have to meet the gross income test.) Under categorical eligibility, SNAP eligibility is automatically conveyed based upon the applicant\u2019s participation in other means-tested programs, namely Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or General Assistance (GA). Because TANF is a broad-purpose block grant, the state option to extend SNAP eligibility to applicants that receive a TANF-funded benefit allows states to offer program eligibility under rules that vary from those discussed in this paragraph, including an elimination of the asset test. Applicants are also subject to non-financial rules, which include work-related requirements such as a time limit for Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). \nIf eligible for SNAP, an applicant household also undergoes a calculation of its monthly benefit amount (or allotment). This calculation utilizes the household\u2019s net income as well as the maximum allotment, a figure that equals the current value of the \u201cThrifty Food Plan\u201d (TFP). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had temporarily increased this value; this increase ended after October 31, 2013. \nBenefits are issued on an EBT card, which operates with a declining balance like a debit card. Benefits are not cash, may not be accessed at an automatic teller machine, and are redeemable only for foods. Benefits may be redeemed for foods at licensed retailers, which may include a wide variety of retailers so long as retailers meet licensing requirements.\nThis report focuses on SNAP eligibility and the form and function of benefits. For an overview of SNAP along with the other USDA-FNS programs, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and National School Lunch Program (NSLP), see CRS Report R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs. For issues related to SNAP and the 2014 farm bill, see CRS Report R43332, SNAP and Related Nutrition Provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79). For a brief overview of the farm bill\u2019s nutrition programs, see CRS In Focus IF10663, Farm Bill Primer: SNAP and Other Nutrition Title Programs.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42505", "sha1": "a1dce60d68ecf6a5e259f2e5d333434c5a843700", "filename": "files/20180411_R42505_a1dce60d68ecf6a5e259f2e5d333434c5a843700.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R42505_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180411_R42505_images_b033212475cc6ce1f9247766b8f3e7cb359a3381.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42505", "sha1": "202751806b27332231c005186f8adbc99e94df77", "filename": "files/20180411_R42505_202751806b27332231c005186f8adbc99e94df77.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4856, "name": "Nutrition Programs & Policies" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4917, "name": "Food & Nutrition Assistance" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 457923, "date": "2016-12-29", "retrieved": "2017-01-03T22:36:55.493003", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "summary": "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, is designed primarily to increase the food purchasing power of eligible low-income households to help them buy a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet. This report describes the rules related to eligibility for SNAP benefits as well as the rules for benefits and their redemption. SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS). SNAP is authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. This law, formerly the Food Stamp Act of 1977, has since 1973 been reauthorized by the \u201cfarm bill,\u201d omnibus legislation that also typically includes the authorization of other federal agricultural policies and programs. The program was most recently reauthorized by the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79, enacted February 7, 2014). \nSNAP eligibility and benefits are calculated on a household basis. Financial eligibility is determined through a traditional or a categorical eligibility path. Under traditional eligibility, applicant households must meet gross income, net income, and asset tests. Specifically, household gross monthly income (all income as defined by SNAP law) must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and household net (SNAP-specified deductions are subtracted) monthly income must be at 100% of the federal poverty level. The traditional asset rules are set at $2,000 per household (inflation adjusted). (Households that contain an elderly or disabled member have a higher asset limit and also do not have to meet the gross income test.) Under categorical eligibility, SNAP eligibility is automatically conveyed based upon the applicant\u2019s participation in other means-tested programs, namely Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or General Assistance (GA). Because TANF is a broad-purpose block grant, the state option to extend SNAP eligibility to applicants that receive a TANF-funded benefit allows states to offer program eligibility under rules that vary from those discussed in this paragraph, including an elimination of the asset test. Applicants are also subject to non-financial rules, which include work-related requirements such as a time limit for Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). \nIf eligible for SNAP, an applicant household also undergoes a calculation of its monthly benefit amount (or allotment). This calculation utilizes the household\u2019s net income as well as the maximum allotment, a figure that equals the current value of the \u201cThrifty Food Plan\u201d (TFP). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act had temporarily increased this value; this increase ended after October 31, 2013. \nBenefits are issued on an EBT card, which operates with a declining balance like a debit card. Benefits are not cash, may not be accessed at an automatic teller machine, and are redeemable only for foods. Benefits may be redeemed for foods at licensed retailers, which may include a wide variety of retailers so long as retailers meet licensing requirements.\nThis report focuses on SNAP eligibility and the form and function of benefits. For an overview of SNAP along with the other USDA-FNS programs, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and National School Lunch Program (NSLP), see CRS Report R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs. For issues related to SNAP and the 2014 farm bill, see CRS Report R43332, SNAP and Related Nutrition Provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42505", "sha1": "9752dff8bd65784a0c0aa7693ec61800d7d53bfd", "filename": "files/20161229_R42505_9752dff8bd65784a0c0aa7693ec61800d7d53bfd.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42505", "sha1": "06252eef3754f8e789cc45f167b96fd1e2c618f1", "filename": "files/20161229_R42505_06252eef3754f8e789cc45f167b96fd1e2c618f1.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4856, "name": "Nutrition Programs & Policies" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4917, "name": "Food & Nutrition Assistance" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 449602, "date": "2016-02-02", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T17:19:26.189468", "title": "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits", "summary": "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program, is designed primarily to increase the food purchasing power of eligible low-income households to help them buy a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet. This report describes the rules related to eligibility for SNAP benefits as well as the rules for benefits and their redemption. SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS). SNAP is authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. This law, formerly the Food Stamp Act of 1977, has since 1973 been reauthorized by the \u201cfarm bill,\u201d omnibus legislation that also typically includes the authorization of other federal agricultural policies and programs. The program was most recently reauthorized by the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79, enacted February 7, 2014). \nSNAP eligibility and benefits are calculated on a household basis. Eligibility is determined through a traditional or a categorical eligibility path. Under traditional eligibility, applicant households must meet gross income, net income, and asset tests. Specifically, household gross monthly income (all income as defined by SNAP law) must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and household net (SNAP-specified deductions are subtracted) monthly income must be at 100% of the federal poverty level. The traditional asset rules are set at $2,000 per household (inflation adjusted). (Households that contain an elderly or disabled member have a higher asset limit and also do not have to meet the gross income test.) Under categorical eligibility, SNAP eligibility is automatically conveyed based upon the applicant\u2019s participation in other means-tested programs, namely Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or General Assistance (GA). 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