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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

“Struggling with your grocery money?”

Are you or do you know of someone having trouble making ends meet each month?  Many southwest Missouri residents often have very little money left for nutritious food after paying their rent, utilities, transportation, child care and more.

It doesn’t have to be that way, SNAP can help!

In the 28 Missouri counties that Ozarks Food Harvest serves there are more than 87,000 individuals possibly eligible for SNAP.  This means that $223 million or 92 million meals are currently unused.

What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP; is a federally funded program that helps low-income families buy nutritious food from retailers.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays for SNAP benefits throughout the country.

SNAP helps millions of low-income Americans put food on the table, providing benefits that are timely, targeted, and temporary. SNAP responds quickly to changes in need, growing in response to increases in poverty and unemployment. The program is targeted at our most vulnerable citizens, predominantly serving households with children, seniors, and disabled individuals. SNAP benefits phase out as participants get back on their feet, with the average household staying on the program less than one year. The program is not only effective at reaching those in need, it’s also efficient, boasting one of the highest payment accuracy rates with low administrative overhead.

How does SNAP work?
SNAP benefits are delivered monthly to eligible participants through electronic benefits transfer  cards, (known as EBT) that can be used to purchase groceries at more than  200,000 authorized retailers nationwide.  EBT cards are programmed to allow for the purchase of food only. Other items sold at authorized retailers are prohibited, including vitamin supplements, hot or prepared food, non-food items, alcoholic beverages, and cigarettes.  In some instances, senior, disabled, or homeless participants, who lack the ability to prepare meals at home, may purchase prepared meals at low-cost restaurants.

This table shows SNAP income guidelines. 

If your household has an individual age 60 or older, or disabled, only the net monthly income limit must be met.

Apply for Food Stamps in 2 easy steps.