The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called food assistance in Florida and formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food benefits, access to a healthy diet, and education on food preparation and nutrition to low-income households. Recipients spend their benefits (provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card) to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores.
SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. SNAP is the federal name for the program. State programs may have different names.
Merchants in every state now have the opportunity to accept customer payments via an SNAP card. This payment option enables customers to access funds electronically from their government-authorized food stamp or cash benefit accounts. The SNAP card eliminates paper coupons and checks for these programs, which annually account for $500 billion in government-dispersed benefits.
SNAP cards generally are linked to a food stamp and / or cash benefits account. SNAP cards can be linked to two accounts – a checking and a savings account.
