The Food Stamps Program is an assistance project designed to provide food purchasing aid for individuals who live on low income. A food stamp works like a debit card from a bank.

Qualified individuals can get food stamps from the local Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and use them to buy food at most grocery stores in the United States. The benefits of food stamps not only affect the low income families who are in need of money to buy food, but the local economy as well.

With the Food Stamps Program providing low-income families with food stamps to purchase food, these social units can use their money to buy other pressing needs such as clothing and medication. Virtually, food stamps increase the purchasing power of such families and their spending contributes to the local economical growth.

On October 1, 2008, the federally funded Food Stamps Program changed its name to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the recently enacted 2008 Farm Bill. The new name reflects the shift of the program’s focus in providing qualified individuals with healthier options.
There are several factors used to determine the eligibility of an individual to receive aid from SNAP. These factors include:

• Resources and income;
• Employment;
• Immigrant status;
• Special considerations for the disabled and elderly

Today, SNAP brings food to the tables of 28 million people each month. With the food stamp, Americans generating low incomes can save up to 70% of their monthly food expenditures, with SNAP providing the food cost for about $94 per person or $214 per household on a monthly basis.