The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to help low-income individuals and families access the food they need for good health. This article provides a detailed overview of SNAP, its benefits, eligibility requirements, and recent initiatives aimed at promoting healthier food choices.
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people buy the food they need for good health. If you are eligible for SNAP, you will receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is used like a debit card at the grocery store. The card uses money from a SNAP account set up for the eligible family to pay for food items. The benefits can only be used on eligible food purchases. People also can buy garden seeds with SNAP benefits.
SNAP food benefits are put on a Lone Star Card and can be used just like a debit card at any store that accepts SNAP.
What Can You Buy with SNAP?
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase a wide variety of food items, including:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
You can also use your SNAP benefits to buy food online.
Read also: Healthy eating at night
Restrictions
However, there are restrictions on what you can purchase with SNAP benefits. SNAP can’t be used to:
- Buy tobacco.
- Buy alcoholic drinks.
- Buy things you can't eat or drink.
- Pay for food bills you owe.
Effective April 1, 2026, SNAP recipients will not be allowed to use SNAP benefits to purchase:
- Candy: Examples of items that cannot be purchased include candy bars, gum, drops and taffy. Nuts, raisins and fruits that have been candied, crystalized, glazed or coated with chocolate, yogurt, or caramel and nuts roasted with a sweetener are also not allowed.
- Sweetened drinks: Examples of drinks that cannot be purchased include nonalcoholic beverages made with water that contain 5 grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener. (Items that can be purchased include beverages that contain milk or milk products; soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes; or have more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume.)
Who is Eligible for SNAP?
SNAP is available to people in eligible low-income households. Most adults ages 18 to 54 with no children in their home can get SNAP for only three months in a three-year period. The benefit period might be longer if the person works at least 20 hours a week or is in a job or training program. Some adults might not have to work to get benefits, such as those who have a disability or are pregnant.
Households in which all members are either older adults (age 60 and older) or people with disabilities are eligible to participate in the Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP), which makes the SNAP application process easier and provides three years of benefits at a time instead of six months.
Income Limits
The amount of SNAP you get (also called benefit amount), depends on a variety of circumstances such as, the number of people in your household, your income, and other factors.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
The following chart gives a general idea of the amount of money (income) that most people or families can earn and still be in this program.
| Family size | Maximum monthly income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,152 |
| 2 | $2,909 |
| 3 | $3,665 |
| 4 | $4,421 |
| 5 | $5,177 |
| 6 | $5,934 |
| 7 | $6,690 |
| 8 | $7,446 |
| For each additional person, add: | $757 |
Work Requirements
Most people ages 16 to 59 must follow work rules to get SNAP benefits. Work rules mean a person must look for a job or be in an approved work program. If the person has a job, they can’t quit without a good reason.
How Much Assistance Can You Get?
SNAP gives households money each month to help purchase food. The amount depends on household size, income, and expenses. The chart below shows the maximum benefit a household can get per family size.
| Family size | Monthly SNAP amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| For each additional person, add: | $218 |
Healthy SNAP Initiatives
Several initiatives are underway to encourage healthier food choices among SNAP recipients.
Missouri's Healthy SNAP
On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-30, directing the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) to prepare and submit a waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to alter Missouri's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This waiver aims to prioritize healthy foods and nutritional value, discourage foods that are high in added sugar and ultra processed ingredients, and supports Missouri agriculture.
Read also: Satisfy Your Cravings with Whole Foods
Additionally, Governor Kehoe's executive order calls for the Director of DSS to explore and recommend strategies to further encourage the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables, and Missouri-produced meats and dairy products within the SNAP program. This Healthy SNAP initiative will involve leveraging and enhancing current Missouri healthy food education and access programs for purchasing nutritious food. The DSS Healthy SNAP initiative furthers the overall mission to empower Missourians to live healthy and productive lives
In conjunction with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, DSS is committed to utilizing and incentivizing the purchase of locally sourced, nutritious agricultural products.
DSS will work closely with team members and stakeholders, including families, nutrition experts, healthcare providers, retailers, and the agricultural community, to create an effective implementation plan and program details. This collaborative engagement process will begin in November 2025, ensuring Healthy SNAP reflects the needs and insights of those most impacted.
Double Up Food Bucks
There are several farmers markets in Idaho that will double your food stamp benefits! Programs vary by market but at some locations you can get up to a $20 match per market visit! This means take $20 off your EBT card and receive another $20 to spend on fruits and vegetables for you and your family.
Cooking Matters
Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters course is a six-week program that provide practical nutrition and budgeting information, tasty recipes and hands-on cooking lessons.
How to Apply for SNAP
- Apply for benefits at Your Texas Benefits
- Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP)
If you have difficulty communicating in English or have a disability, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request.
External Factors Affecting SNAP
Federal Government Shutdown
Due to the federal shutdown, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has instructed state agencies to temporarily suspend the issuance of November 2025 SNAP benefits, which are 100% federally funded. DSS will still accept and process SNAP applications, reported changes, and mid-certifications as usual.
Idaho SNAP benefits delay
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has instructed Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to temporarily delay issuing SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits. This does not affect WIC benefits.SNAP applications will continue to be accepted. However, DHW must temporarily delay issuing SNAP benefits for the month of November and beyond until funding resumes. These changes will likely impact customer experience, with longer wait times in our call centers and offices.
Immediate Food Assistance
If you need food assistance immediately, and are eligible, we can provide benefits within seven days.