What Is Covered by Food Stamps?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the food stamp program. SNAP benefits are used to buy food and increase the purchasing power in grocery stores for individual recipients of the program, thus improving the nutrition in their diets.

Eligible Food Items

• Eligible food items include breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and poultry.

Other Eligible Items

• Other eligible items include seeds or plants used to grow food for the household to eat.

Non-eligible Items

• Non-eligible items include beer, wine, liquor, tobacco products, and such non-food items as pet food, toilet paper and other paper products, vitamins, soap and household products, food to be eaten in the store, and hot foods.

Exceptions

• In some areas, restaurants may be approved to take SNAP cards from qualified homeless, elderly or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Applying For Benefits

• Benefits may be applied for at your local food stamp office or at a Social Security Administration office.