| Q. |
Why was the
name of the Program changed? |
| A. |
The new name
reflects our focus on nutrition and putting healthy food
within reach for low income households.
|
| Q. |
What does the
name change mean for me – a food stamp recipient? |
| A. |
Only the name of
the Food Stamp Program is changing. SNAP is not a new
Program. The name change will have no effect on your
benefits. You will continue to receive benefits as
before and access them with the same electronic card at
your local authorized retailers and farmers markets. You do not need to fill out any new paperwork. The same
State agency will continue to handle your case. Through
nutrition education partners, SNAP will still help
clients learn to make healthy eating and active
lifestyle choices.
|
| |
 |
SNAP Fact Sheet -
English |
| |
|
SNAP Fact Sheet
- Spanish
|
| Q. |
What else has
changed besides the name? |
| A. |
Recent program
improvements include an increase in the minimum benefit
(from $10 to $14) and standard deduction, elimination of
the cap on dependent care deduction and the exclusion of
education and retirement accounts from countable
resources.
|
| Q. |
Are processing
times changing? |
| A. |
No. Time frames
to process applications will not change. Applications
will continue to be processed by case workers using
either expedited (within 7 days) or normal processing
time frames (within 30 days).
|
| Q. |
As a SNAP
client, how do I access nutrition information and
education? |
| A. |
States usually
offer nutrition education services through partner
organizations. Your eligibility worker can direct you
to the nutrition education services in your community.
Nutrition education can help you learn how to make
healthy eating and active lifestyle choices.
|
| Q. |
Are SNAP
clients only allowed to purchase certain nutritious
foods? |
| A. |
SNAP requirements
for foods that can be purchased are the same as in the
FSP. SNAP clients can buy all foods intended to be
eaten at home. Some things, such as alcoholic
beverages, cigarettes, foods hot at the point of sale,
non-food items, vitamins or medicines and pet foods are
not allowed.
|
| Q. |
Who should I
contact for more information if I want to apply for SNAP
benefits? |
| A. |
Contact your
State agency. Or call our national number
1-800-221-5689.
|
| Q. |
Will States
change the name of their Programs to SNAP? |
| A. |
States are
encouraged, but not required, to change their program
name to SNAP, as it is an opportunity to promote
messages about healthy eating to customers. States are
still able to rename their programs independent of the
Program’s Federal name. Over time, FNS, other Federal
Agencies, and States will no longer reference the FSP. Some States have already changed the names of their
programs.
|
| |
|
State Name Chart: This chart lists State program
names. It will be updated as States implement name
changes.
|
| Q. |
Will the Food
and Nutrition Service provide free outreach, retailer
and other materials with the new name? |
| A. |
FNS will continue
to provide free materials to outreach providers,
retailers and others. FNS will reprint materials with
the new name when current supplies of materials run
out.
|
| |
This is a template for standard Avery 5163 labels with a
notice about the change to SNAP. Print these labels and
add them to your existing materials. An informational
notice about the new name is also provided with all
orders for outreach materials. |
| |
|
Label - English |
| |
|
Label - Spanish
|
| Q. |
What is FNS
doing to raise awareness of the name change? |
| A. |
FNS is conducting
outreach; providing technical assistance to States;
sending letters to partners, retailers and other Federal
agencies; making announcements on our toll free numbers,
and including inserts with publication orders. Over the
long term, FNS will update publications, existing radio
and television public service announcements and similar
items. FNS has resources available to its partners to
use to communicate the name change to their clients,
including newsletter articles, an e-newsletter
paragraph, a fact sheet, and a press release. For
assistance, please contact
laura.griffin@fns.usda.gov.
|
| |
|
Press
Release |
| |
|
Newsletter
Article (.pdf) |
| |
|
Newsletter
Paragraph (.pdf) |
| |
|
Op-Ed:
Putting Healthy Food Within Reach |
| |
|
Bites and B-Roll |
| |
|
Jessica Shahin on SNAP Improvements
Jessica Shahin on SNAP Partnerships
Jessica Shahin on SNAP Mission |
| |
|
Other Helpful Links |
| |
|
Find out if you
might be eligible for SNAP nutrition benefits. |
| |
|
Locate your local
SNAP office and your State’s application form. |
| |
|
Complete an
application to become an authorized SNAP retailer. |
