The goal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or SNAP, is to help recipients maintain healthy diets by making relatively expensive items, like fresh produce, accessible to those with low incomes. SNAP distributes funds for purchasing food via EBT, or Electronic Benefits Transfer cards. These cards are a federally funded payment option accepted at participating stores.
SNAP benefits can buy you foods for you and your household to eat, such as:
- Breads & cereals
- Fruits & vegetables
- Meats, fish & poultry
- Dairy products
Products that cannot be purchased using SNAP benefits include:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, or household supplies
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Vitamins or medicines
- Hot foods
