Family food budgets are stretched thinner than ever.
A few dollars here or there can make a huge difference.
They can get you through a rough patch, or add a little wiggle room to a fixed budget.
Did you know thatAmazonnow accepts SNAP cards? So you can buy EBT eligible groceries online, no prime membership required. (There is no shipping fee with orders over $25)
Heres how they work.
What Are SNAP Benefits?
SNAP is the largest food assistance program in the country, serving nearly 42 million people.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Today, families receive SNAP benefits on an electronic benefits transfer card, or EBT card.
Who Uses SNAP?
Lets clear up the stereotypes.
How Do You Qualify for SNAP?
Is your family missing out?
Here are the generaleligibility requirementsfor SNAP benefits.
Households may have up to $2,750 in countable resources, such as a bank account.
A lot of assets are exempt from your countable resources.
Your home, land and retirement account most likely dont count toward this total.
Your vehicle might account toward the total, particularly if its fair market value is more than $4,650.
Its one of severalspecial rules for the elderly or disabled.
Most households have to meet the income test to qualify for assistance.
Exceptions include households in which all members receive TANF, SSI or, in some places, general assistance.
So how can you figure gross income vs. net income?
Gross incomeis your households total income.
Youll subtract 20%, which is $320, and youll subtract the standard deduction of $193.
So your net income will be no more than $1,087.
Limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
Adults between 16 and 59 must meet work requirements to be eligible for SNAP.
Like any government program, the devil is in the details.
How Much Can You Receive in SNAP Benefits?
The average SNAP household received a monthly benefit of $230 from October 2019 to March 2020.
About 11% of recipients received the minimum benefit amount of $16.
The minimum amount is only available to households of one or two people.
However, thoseextra SNAP benefits officially endnationwide in March 2023, reducing benefits to pre-pandemic levels.
Several states phased out boosted benefits earlier.
Some states may require you to visit your local office to fill out an app.
Visit the USDAsSNAP websitefor all program information.
you’re able to also call the hotline dedicated to SNAP benefits questions in your state.
Or talk to a representative with your questions at your local SNAP office.
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
She focuses on retirement, taxes, investing and life insurance.
Former staff writerDana Sitar contributed.
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
