What is SNAP?

 

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and helps more than 40 million Americans each year. It is America’s largest anti-hunger program and helps people in every part of the United States—likely right in your own neighborhood or town.

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SNAP provides food assistance to low-income families, senior citizens, disabled people, and others to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. SNAP goes by different names in different states, but is familiar as an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and is a monthly program that goes to buy foods at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other authorized food stores. SNAP cannot and is not used to buy Alcohol or tobacco products, non-food items, or vitamins and medicines.

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What is WIC?

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WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and supports more than 6.5 million Americans each month, including support for an estimated 41% of all infants in the United States. WIC is one of the United States’ most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs, reducing fetal deaths and infant mortality, improving the growth and cognitive development of nutritionally at-risk children, and improving the health of pregnant and postpartum women.

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Why are SNAP and WIC under threat?

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Due to the federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, SNAP, WIC, and other federal programs have gone unfunded. While these programs are run by state and local agencies and organizations, they use federal funding to help people across American towns, cities, and neighborhoods. In previous federal government shutdowns, presidential administrations have found ways to continue funding SNAP and WIC. It is incumbent on the president and Congress to do the same now.