what are snap benefits

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits provide low-income individuals and families with funds to purchase nutritious food, helping them maintain adequate nutrition and health. These benefits enable households to afford more healthy foods, supplement their grocery budgets, and improve food security, especially for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. SNAP benefits are distributed electronically and can be used like cash to buy food and food-related products. Beyond nutrition, SNAP helps reduce poverty and economic hardship by freeing up household resources for other essential needs like rent and utilities. SNAP also acts as an economic stimulus, as benefits are quickly spent on groceries, boosting local economies. It supports employment by supplementing low wages and providing a safety net during job loss or income volatility. Research links SNAP with improved health outcomes, such as better self-reported health, fewer medical visits, and reduced health care costs. Nutrition education programs under SNAP help participants make healthier food choices. Overall, SNAP is a key anti-hunger and poverty alleviation program that supports nutritional well-being and economic stability for millions in the U.S. each month.