What You Can And Can’t Buy With Food Stamps

SNAP Background

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) started in the 1970s to help those living on a limited income to put food on the table. While you may be familiar with the old fashioned food stamps, today’s SNAP benefits usually come loaded onto an EBT card that can be swiped like a credit card at participating stores.

Does SNAP cover all grocery costs? Not necessarily. Instead, it’s meant to be a supplement. As such, it comes with limitations, which we’ll discuss right now.

What You Can Buy With Food Stamps

When using SNAP, you’ll find yourself restricted to food for the household, such as:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Dairy
• Fish
• Fruits
• Meat
• Non-alcoholic drinks
• Plants or seeds to grow food for the home
• Poultry
• Snacks
• Vegetables

What You Can’t Buy With Food Stamps

SNAP is meant to ensure that low-income families get the essential nutrition they need. As such, you won’t be able to use food stamps to buy luxuries, such as:

• Beer
• Cigarettes
• Cleaning supplies
• Cosmetics
• Hot foods
• Household supplies
• Hygiene items
• Liquor
• Medicines
• Paper products
• Pet food
• Prepared foods
• Supplements
• Tobacco
• Vitamins
• Wine

You also won’t be able to use food stamps to buy live animals, except if they were slaughtered before picking them up from the store. Fish removed from water and shellfish are okay.

Now that you see the dos and don’ts of using SNAP benefits, you can apply for food stamps, if you haven’t already done so, by going here.

Other SNAP Resources

Although you can find more info about SNAP at the link above and apply for food stamps, here are some other resources worth checking out:

SNAP-Ed

If you need help with stretching your food budget, SNAP-Ed offers up tips on how to cook healthy meals on the cheap and more.

Fresh EBT

This app helps SNAP recipients check their food stamp balance on their smartphones. It also offers coupons, plus job posts and money-making opportunities to give those who need it a financial boost.

If You’re Pregnant or Have Young Kids, Try WIC

While food stamps may be the most well-known nutrition assistance program from the government, don’t forget about WIC or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

It can be of great help if you are pregnant, in the postpartum stage, or are breastfeeding. 

And you could also qualify for WIC if you have infants or children up to age five.

You can use the WIC Prescreening Tool to see if you are eligible for this unique benefits program, or you can kick start the application process by going here.

As for what WIC assistance will give you, here’s a list:

• Baby foods
• Canned fish
• Cheese
• Dried and canned beans or peas
• Eggs
• Fruits
• Infant cereal
• Iron-fortified adult cereal
• Iron-fortified infant formula
• Milk
• Peanut butter
• Soy-based beverages
• Tofu
• Vegetable juice
• Vegetables
• Vitamin C-rich fruit juice
• Whole wheat bread