SNAP, short for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has been in the news lately due to the shutdown and resulting cut to benefits.  It’s certainly off topic for a normal post, but it’s difficult to find a condensed summary. We’ll stay out of the politics and just present an overview of the program and benefits.

What SNAP Is

SNAP helps low-income families buy groceries each month. It’s run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and managed by state agencies. How much help a family gets depends on household size, income, and expenses like rent, childcare, or medical costs.

How SNAP Benefits Are Calculated

Each household gets a set monthly amount, called an allotment. The government figures this out using this formula:

Maximum benefit for your household size – 30% of your net monthly income = SNAP benefit

Maximum Monthly SNAP Benefits for 2025 (Alabama):

Household Size	Maximum Monthly Benefit
1	$298
2	$546
3	$785
4	$994
5	$1,183
6	$1,421
7	$1,571
8	$1,789
Each extra person	+ $218

Example: A family of four can get up to $994 per month in SNAP benefits, depending on their income.

Who Qualifies

To get SNAP, families must meet income limits based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). There are two main limits: gross income (total income before deductions) and net income (income after deductions).

Example: A family of four must earn no more than $3,483 a month before deductions to qualify. That’s about $42,000 per year. If they have high rent, medical, or childcare expenses, they could still qualify with a little more income because those costs can be deducted. The 2024 median household income for Alabama was almost $67,000.

Work Rules

SNAP encourages adults who are able to work to participate in the workforce.

General Rules (ages 16–59):

• Register for work
• Take a suitable job if offered
• Join a job training or work program if required
• Don’t quit a job or cut hours below 30 per week without a good reason

Special Rules for ABAWDs (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents):

Adults ages 18–54 without children must work, train, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month. If they don’t, they can usually only get benefits for three months in a three-year period, unless they live in an area with high unemployment or qualify for an exemption.

Who Doesn’t Have to Meet Work Rules

Some people don’t have to follow these work requirements, including:

• People already working 30+ hours per week
• Those physically or mentally unable to work
• Caregivers for children under age 6 or for someone disabled
• Pregnant individuals
• Students enrolled at least half-time
• Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and those living with children under 18

What Can you Buy with SNAP Benefits?

Any food for the household, such as:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, and fish
• Dairy products
• Breads and cereals
• Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
• Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

• Beer, wine, and liquor
• Cigarettes and tobacco
• Food and drinks containing controlled substances such as cannabis/marijuana and CBD
• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
• Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
• Foods that are hot at the point of sale
• Any non-food items such as:

• • Pet foods
  • Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
  • Hygiene items and cosmetics

How Many People Get SNAP

Nationwide, about 41.7 million people a month (roughly 12% of Americans) get SNAP benefits. In Alabama, around 752,000 people (about 15% of the state’s population) receive SNAP assistance each month. Alabama normally issues approximately $144 million in SNAP benefits per month, or about $191 per person per month.

Currently, program funding has become entangled in a judicial and administrative battle.  It’s not just an issue for beneficiaries; the USDA reports each dollar of SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in economic activity, affecting many retailers in low-income areas.