The purpose of the SNAP is to provide nutritional options to families in need of food assistance. It may be called a different name in some states — in Kansas, for example, this program is known as the Food Assistance Program.

Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT, is an electronic system that allows users to authorize transfers of government benefits from a federal account to a retailer account to pay for items. Those who are part of the SNAP program can use an EBT card to make food purchases at the grocery store. EBT is used in all 50 states, as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

If you think you are eligible for the SNAP program, you have to apply for the program in the state you currently live in. You or a member of your household must contact your state agency to apply because each state has a different application form and process that you will need to go through.

To get more information, contact your local SNAP office or check for information online. However, if you don’t have internet access or are unable to go to the office, the program allows you to authorize another person as your representative to apply and be interviewed on your behalf. But you must authorize the representative in writing.

After you apply for SNAP benefits, your state agency or local SNAP office will process your application and let you know, in most cases within 30 days, whether or not you are eligible for the benefit. During those 30 days, you will be asked to complete an in-person or telephone interview and to provide proof of the information you submitted. If you meet all of the requirements, you will typically receive your benefits based on the date you submitted your application.

To be eligible, there are some basic rules you need to fulfill, such as being a U.S. citizen or a qualified lawful resident, having proper identification and making a list of people who live and eat in your household. Depending on which state you’re in, income eligibility may differ. Most SNAP eligibility rules apply to all households, but there are some special rules for households with elderly or disabled members. According to the USDA, 60 years or older is considered elderly in regards to SNAP. Under SNAP guidelines, someone is considered disabled if they meet one of six criteria listed at fns.usda.gov/snap. That includes receiving state disability, disability retirement benefits from a governmental agency and more.

If you are eligible for SNAP benefits, you will receive an EBT card, which you can use like a debit card to buy groceries at food stores or other retailers that accept the benefits. Each month, your benefits will be automatically loaded on to your account.

Once you become eligible for SNAP benefits, you enter a certification period. This period can range from one month to a few years because benefits vary from household to household. Most households will receive a period of three or six months before they have to renew, but it is all based on your needs. Before your period is over, you will be notified to recertify.

Everyone who lives, buys and prepares meals together is considered one SNAP household. This includes spouses and most children under the age of 22, even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. However, if an elderly person, 60 years or older, is unable to purchase or prepare meals separately due to a permanent disability, then the person and their spouse may be in a separate SNAP household if the others in the home don’t bring in much income.

To be eligible, a household must meet both the gross and net income limits in most cases. The gross income is the household’s total, non-excluded income before deductions. The net income is determined by the gross income minus deductions. For a two-person household, in the contiguous 48 states and Washington, D.C., the gross monthly income limit is $1,832 and the net monthly income limit is $1,410. The two states that differ are Alaska and Hawaii.

Your SNAP benefits amount is determined by your household income and size. Households are expected to spend about 30% of their resources on food, so the total amount of benefits is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly total depending on your household size.

For 48 states and Washington, D.C, the maximum monthly allotment is the same, but it’s different in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For example, in the 48 states and D.C., the maximum monthly allotment for a one-person household is $194, while in Hawaii, it is $356.

The work requirements to be eligible for SNAP benefits include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours without a good reason, taking a suitable job if offered and participating in employment and training programs if assigned by your state SNAP agency.

Some able-bodied individuals without dependents may be required to work or participate in a work program for at least 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period, but there are some exceptions.

Some students who are enrolled less than half-time in an institution of higher education may be eligible for SNAP if they also meet all other requirements. However, students who attend college more than half-time or part-time are not eligible unless they meet certain exemptions and meet all other SNAP requirements. A few exemptions include being 17 years old or younger or 50 years old or older, having a disability, and working at least 20 hours a week in paid employment.

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 limits eligibility to U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens. In order for non-citizens to qualify for SNAP, they generally must meet criteria such as having lived in the U.S. for at least five years, be receiving disability-related benefits, or be a child under 18. And they must also satisfy other SNAP requirements such as income limits.

There are some limitations as to what you are allowed to buy using your SNAP benefits. You can use your benefits to buy food products including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, non-alcoholic beverages and more. But you are not allowed to use your benefits to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, vitamins, supplements or non-food items such as pet food, cleaning products and more. If you’re not eligible to apply for the SNAP program, here are some tips to help you save money while you’re grocery shopping online.

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