Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Outreach (SNAP)

For more than 40 years, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has served as the foundation of America’s national nutrition safety net. It is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and offers a powerful tool to improve nutrition among low-income people. In fiscal year 2011, SNAP served nearly 45 million people, about one in seven Americans. Over the course of four decades, researchers and analysts—inside government and out—have built a substantial body of evidence that SNAP makes an important difference in the lives of low-income people. In order to be reviewed for SNAP, households must meet the income requirement and fill out a Combined Application Form at http://mn.bridgetobenefits.org/Food_Support3.html.

For children, a better diet means better learning in school. For adults, it means better performance on the job or a better foundation for developing the job skill that can give them and their families’ independence. For seniors, it means access to a balanced diet vital to their nutritional well-being. For everyone, participation in SNAP can help stretch limited budgets, improve nutrition, and reduce the risk of diet-related health problems.

SNAP Information:

• Children cannot learn as well, adults cannot work as productively, and seniors cannot maintain their independence as well without proper nutrition.
• No paper coupons Simple EBT card.
• 40% of eligible low-income Minnesota families are still not accessing Food Support.
• Average $88 per person per month or $193 per household per month (SFY 2006)
• About half of those that receive food stamp benefits are children.
• Free and reduced school lunch programs are available for those on Food Support.
• Every $5 in new Food Stamps benefits generates $9 in total community spending.
• 100% federally funded through Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

People who are working or have regular income from other sources than work, such as Social Security or a retirement pension, disability benefits, child support, or unemployment, can often get SNAP benefits. If you are applying for SNAP benefits, your benefit amount will depend upon the number of people in your food stamp “household”, your “household’s” total monthly income, and certain “household” monthly expenses. SNAP benefits give a person or family more buying power at the grocery store. The benefits are not intended to cover all of a family’s food costs, but will lessen the amount of income that must be used toward groceries each month. Enrolling individuals in the food support program can help take some financial burden off their hands and bring them closer to financial self-sufficiency as well as a healthier lifestyle.

For more information on SNAP contact Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Inc. at 218-281-5832 or 1-800-584-7020.