SNAP Frequently Asked Questions

What is SNAP?

SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This program is federally funded and provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of individuals who may not make enough money to eat healthy consistently.

What food can I buy with SNAP?

Households can use SNAP to buy nutritious foods such as bread and cereal, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products and non-alcoholic beverages. SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy any kind of alcohol or tobacco products or any nonfood items like household supplies or vitamins and medicines. Some stores have signage on shelves that states if certain food items are “EBT approved”.

How do I receive my SNAP benefits?

SNAP benefits are delivered monthly through electronic debit (EBT) cards, which are used to purchase groceries at one of the more than 246,000 authorized retailers nationwide including gas station convenience store, bodegas (small mom and pops stores) and farmers markets. These retailers include but not limited to Publix, Walmart and Target.

This electronic debit (EBT) card will be mailed to the address you provided on your SNAP application.

Where do I go to apply for SNAP?

https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/ is the State of Florida’s SNAP website.

SNAP agents are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Why should I apply for SNAP?

There are a lot of college students who experience food insecurity. American Psychological Association found that students who were food insecure experienced significantly higher rates of depression, loneliness, and anxiety when compared with students who had reliable access to enough food. These factors influence overall well-being.

Is SNAP available while I’m a student?

Students that are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half-time are eligible to apply. However, benefits are limited to those who are participating in a federally financed work-study program, are single parents enrolled full-time in college, or select other considerations. Please see https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/ for additional information about program eligibility.

How long has SNAP been offered? Is this the same as food stamps?

Paper food stamps were eliminated around 2008 when a change in the program’s name came to be, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is now electronic.

Will my application for SNAP benefits affect my parent or guardian?

SNAP benefits are not taxable income, so they do not affect you or your parent or guardian. Students should not report the income of their parents if the parents do not live with the student.

How much financial assistance for food will I receive through SNAP?

The maximum monthly assistance amounts are as follows:

-Household of 1 is $192/month*

-Household of 3 is $504/month

*Due to the COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill, the maximum monthly amount for a household of 1 is $234/month

Will using SNAP benefits impact my taxes?

Food benefits don’t count as taxable income, so they won’t affect your taxes.

How do you know if you have an EFC of 0?

You receive an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) after applying for financial aid. Your EFC is a number calculated using the information you report on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Your school uses your EFC to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. Your EFC is not the amount of money your family pays for your tuition, nor the amount of federal aid you receive. For more information about how EFC is calculated, visit StudentAid.gov.

There are several ways to check if you have an EFC of 0. You can find your EFC on your financial aid award letter from your school or on your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is mailed or emailed to you when you complete the FAFSA. If you do not have copies of these documents, you can ask your school’s financial aid department.

All students receiving the maximum Pell Grant for their enrollment status have an EFC of 0. However, there may be students that have an EFC of 0 but do not receive the maximum Pell Grant. Ask your school or contact Financial Aid to confirm your EFC of 0 if you do not receive the maximum Pell Grant.

How long can I have SNAP benefits?

If you are found eligible, you will receive a notice that tells you how long you will receive SNAP benefits; this is called your certification period. Before your certification period ends, you will receive another notice that says you must recertify to continue receiving benefits. Your local SNAP office will provide you with information about how to recertify.