$94/month

After you apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the next steps will include a SNAP interview. The purpose of the SNAP interview is not to trip you up or to try to disqualify you from the program. It is simply to double-check the information you already provided on your SNAP application. What will they ask during my SNAP interview? The goal of the SNAP interview is to make sure your application is complete, correct, and ready for approval. You can expect to answer questions like: What is your full name and birthday? What is your Social Security number? Where do you live? (You can still qualify if you are houseless.) Are you a U.S. citizen? (You may still qualify if you are a noncitizen.) What is your monthly income? Do you pay utilities, such as an electric bill or cable TV bill? What other regular bills do you have? What should I take to my SNAP interview? Now that you have an idea of what your interviewer might ask, you can gather the documents you will need to answer the questions easily and correctly. This can include: Your Social Security card if you do not have your number memorized A letter from a shelter representative if you are houseless and staying there Proof of identity Acceptable ways to prove your identity include: Birth certificate Driver’s license U.S. passport Work visa Resident alien card Proof of income Make sure to have the following items ready if any of them apply to you: Pay stubs Benefit letters (like those from Social Security or Veterans Administration, for example) Pension statements Proof of deductions Keep handy any bills or payment records for qualified deductions, such as: Dependent-care costs (for a disabled household member, for example) Rent or mortgage Utilities (heat, water, electric, cable, telephone, etc.) Medical expenses How can I get ready for my SNAP interview? Use the list of SNAP interview questions above and picture yourself responding to them. Imagine how it feels to answer with confidence. Practice makes perfect! If you live with someone else, have them ask you these questions. If you live alone, you could sit in front of a mirror. There is no right or wrong way to practice for your SNAP interview. Practice of any kind can help you feel prepared and help your interview go smoothly.

Almost 5 million older adults get help buying food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps. If you are one of them or are thinking about applying, you may have questions about how long you can use SNAP benefits. How long do SNAP benefits last? SNAP benefits periods range from 1 month to 3 years. How long you can receive SNAP benefits depends on:  The number of people in your household Your employment status Your age and health If you qualify, your approval letter will tell you how long you will get benefits. This period of time is called your certification period. Your household will be issued an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to use to spend your monthly SNAP dollars. How do I renew SNAP benefits? If you need help from SNAP for a longer period of time, you will have to recertify for benefits. Several weeks before your SNAP benefits are scheduled to end, you will receive a recertification packet with instructions.  In addition to completing the recertification form, you may have to provide additional verifying information and/or documents. These may include: Your current income and most recent pay stubs, if applicable Any household changes (new members or people who have left) The amount you pay for shelter, dependent care, and medical expenses The good news? Many states have now made the renewal process easier for older adults. If everyone in your house is age 60 or older, you should be able to skip the recertification interview.  SNAP guidelines vary by state. If you have questions, use this state directory and contact your local SNAP office. Do SNAP dollars expire?  You do not have to use all your SNAP benefits in the same month you receive them. Unused SNAP dollars will stay on your EBT card. Some people save up SNAP dollars for fewer but bigger shopping trips. Even if you lose your SNAP benefits, you can still spend any SNAP dollars left on your EBT card. However, the phrase "use it or lose it" applies to SNAP benefits. If you do not spend your SNAP dollars at all for 9 months, you will lose them for good. How can I protect my SNAP benefits? It is important to keep your SNAP EBT card in a safe and secure place, such as your wallet, but mistakes happen. Contact your state’s EBT customer service department right away if: You lose your EBT card. Your EBT card is stolen. You forget your personal identification number (PIN), the 4-digit secret number you use to access your funds. There are unauthorized charges on your EBT account. EBT cards are not protected from fraudulent charges like other government benefits cards, so act quickly to protect your benefits.  How do I apply for SNAP benefits? NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp is here to help make the often overwhelming SNAP application process much easier for you. Click here to get started by entering your ZIP code.   

Did you know that most food items you would normally purchase at the grocery store can be bought with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? What can you buy with your SNAP benefits? In addition to items like fresh produce, meats, dairy items, breads, and cereals, you can also buy items that help you prepare your meals or that are commonly eaten with meals. A good rule of thumb for what can't be bought using your SNAP benefits is all nonfood items as well as pet food.  Here is a more detailed list of what you can buy with SNAP ( ✅ ), followed by a list of what you can't buy with SNAP (❌). Items approved for purchase with SNAP ✅ Staple foods Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned) Meat, poultry, and fish (fresh, frozen, or canned) Dairy items (fresh or shelf-stable) Bread and cereal SNAP allows some leeway in these categories. For example, you can buy nut milk, soy milk, or oat milk instead of cow milk. You can buy gluten-free pasta under bread and cereal. You may even buy 100% apple sauce for fruit, eggs under poultry, or canned ravioli with tomato sauce under vegetables. ✅ Accessory foods Spices and seasonings (powdered, dried, or extracted) Honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, and other natural or artificial sweeteners Ketchup, mustard, and other condiments Potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, and other snacks Baked goods Cake and brownie mixes Ice cream Water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, fruit and vegetable juices, and some but not all energy drinks  ✅ Seeds and plants If you have the time, space, and ability to start a small garden, you may be happy to learn that you can use your SNAP benefits to do it. You can buy seeds and plant starts with SNAP that, over time, may grow enough produce to lower your grocery bill. Items not approved for purchase with SNAP ❌ Hot food/meals You can't use your SNAP benefits for food that is hot and ready to eat when you buy it. This means you can't use SNAP to buy items like rotisserie chicken, precooked pizza slices, or soup from a food bar.  ❌ Beer, wine, and liquor You can't buy alcohol of any kind with SNAP benefits, even if it is sold in a grocery store. ❌ Pet food Pet food can't be purchased with SNAP benefits. But there is no rule against using SNAP to buy canned or bagged tuna, chicken, or other protein for yourself and sharing it with a pet. ❌ Cigarettes You can't use SNAP to buy any tobacco products—not cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco. Likewise, you cannot use SNAP for e-cigarettes or their refills either. ❌ Pharmacy items You can't use SNAP to buy prescription or over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or supplements. Sports and energy drinks that have a Supplement Facts label only can't be purchased with SNAP either. They must have a Nutrition Facts label to buy them with SNAP. ❌ Personal care items SNAP only covers food items. So things like soap, toothpaste, household cleaners, diapers, and makeup can't be bought with SNAP. I am ready. How do I apply for SNAP? Find out if you might be able to get SNAP benefits and learn how to apply here on BenefitsCheckUp. You can use our secure, confidential site to learn more about SNAP, how to navigate to your state's online SNAP application, guidelines, and more.