- Social Security Fairness Act. When to expect an increase in your benefits if you haven't already received it
- How long can you receive SNAP benefits?. What to know about your food stamps
Millions of households in the United States depend each month on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to meet their food needs. However, receiving this assistance does not guarantee automatic permanence.
Although SNAP is part of a federal program istered by the Department of Agriculture through the Food and Nutrition Service, its implementation falls to each state. This decentralized structure causes differences in rules and procedures, which causes confusion among many of the more than 40 million beneficiaries.
During the active period, funds arrive automatically each month via the EBT card (Electronic Benefit Transfer). But that is not indefinite.
Staying on the SNAP program depends both on need and compliance with this essential step. Without it, stops.
What resources are taken into to receive SNAP?
Although SNAP s low-income families, not all financial resources affect eligibility. In most cases, a household can have up to $3,000 in cash or bank s. This limit rises to $4,500 if one of its is 60 years of age or older or lives with a disability. These figures are updated each year.
However, certain assets are not considered when evaluating the application. The home and land where the family lives are exempt, as are the resources of those already receiving SSI or assistance from the TANF program. The same applies to most retirement and pension plans, although frequent withdrawals could count as income. Check the list:
- A house and a plot of land
- Resources for people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Resources for People Receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF; also known as welfare)
- Most retirement and pension plans
In many states, a more flexible criterion known as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) is applied. This allows some households to exceed the traditional income or resource limits and still qualify for SNAP, as long as they receive some type of state-funded assistance from TANF.
It is not enough to meet the economic requirements. Other conditions are also reviewed, such as employment status. Understanding how this system works can make a difference for thousands of families.