This document summarizes information presented at the 2013 St. Louis Area Foodbank All Agency Conference about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides an overview of SNAP eligibility guidelines, benefits, common myths, the application process, and strategies for agencies to promote enrollment. Key points include that SNAP puts monthly benefits on a debit card, average benefits are $133.85 per person, and that increased SNAP participation boosts local economic activity. The document also reviews SNAP demographics like many recipients being children, seniors, or disabled.

1. St. Louis Area Foodbank
2013 All Agency Conference

2.  Supplemental
 Nutrition
 Assistance
 Program

3.  Formally the Food Stamp Program
 A Federal assistance program that helps low
income households purchase healthy food.
 FY 2012 51 million people per month

4.  Benefits are placed on a LINK card (like a
debit card)
 SNAP puts benefits on card once a month
 Programs to help clients learn about healthier
food options and exercise

5.  Every $5 in new SNAP benefits = $9.20 in
local economic activity.
 On average, $1 billion of retail food demand
by SNAP recipients generates 3,300 farm
jobs.
 5% increase SNAP participation rate
nationwide = 2.1 million more low-income
people would have an additional $973 million
in benefits each year to purchase healthy
food.

6.  Clients can still qualify even if they receive
other benefits.
 Average monthly SNAP benefit per person is
$133.85, or less than $1.50 a meal.
 SNAP currently reaches only 56 percent of
eligible working poor households.
 Half of all new participants will leave the
program within nine months.

7.  48% of all participants are children
 79% of all benefits
go to households with children
 58% of households with children are headed
by single parents
 $711 is the average gross monthly income per
SNAP household

8.  90% of poor older adults – 87% of
households with elderly are eligible
for SNAP benefits
 11.4% (over 5 million seniors)
experienced some form of food
insecurity
 76%
of SNAP households included an
elderly person or a disabled person.

9.  Myth: “I have a job; therefore, I do not
qualify.”
 Myth: “If I received SNAP, I would not be able
to receive food from a pantry.”
 Myth: “I have been denied before, so I won’t
be able to get them now either.”

10.  Myth: “SNAP is a welfare program.”
 Myth: “Other people need SNAP benefits
more than I do.”
 Myth: “I only get $8 and it isn’t worth it.”
◦ Minimum in IL is $16

12. People in Maximum Gross Monthly Maximum Gross Monthly
Household Income Income (Age 60 & Over or
Disabled)
1 $1,211 $1,862
2 $1,640 $2,522
3 $2,069 $3,182
4 $2,498 $3,842
5 $2,927 $4,502
6 $3,356 $5,162
7 $3,785 $5,822
8 $4,214 $6,482
9 $4,643 $7,142
10 $5,072 $7,802

13. Other Factors:
 Citizenship or immigration status
 Household Expenses
◦ i.e. utilities, rent or mortgage, medical, child care,
etc.
 Non-work Income
◦ i.e. child support, Social Security, SSI, Veterans
Affairs benefits, etc.

14.  Apply online or submit a paper application to
local DHS.
 2-3 Weeks – client will receive a letter in the
mail with date and time of DHS
 Interview
◦ Interview – face-to-face or via phone
◦ Interview – must submit all necessary documents

15.  30 Days – client will receive a letter
explaining eligibility status. If client is
eligible, the amount of monthly benefits will
be disclosed.
 40-50 Days – if client is eligible, a LINK will
be mailed to them and must be activated.
 6 months – 1 year after clients receives card,
client will need to renew SNAP benefits -
notified via letter

16.  Identity
◦ Examples: birth certificate, driver’s license, etc.
 Residency
◦ Examples: utility bills, rental agreement or
mortgage statement
 Immigration Status
◦ Examples: Immigration or naturalization papers

17.  Medical Expense Deduction
◦ Examples: billing statements, Medicare card
indicating Part “B” drugs, etc.
 Earned Income
◦ Examples: pay stubs, income tax forms, statement
from employer as to gross wages
 Unearned Income
◦ Examples: bank statements showing direct deposit,
letter showing money received for Social Security,
SSI, child support, etc.

18.  Distributing accurate information
 Pre-screening clients
◦ Eligibility calculator
 Application assistance
◦ Online (Illinois)
◦ Paper applications
 Universal – 2378B (IL)
 SNAP – 0683 (IL)
 Redetermination

19.  Help dissolve common misconceptions or
negative feelings towards SNAP
 Lack of staff
 Lack of space
 Knowledge / Training

20.  Client Choice
 Reduce strain on food pantry supply
 Providing additional assistance to clients in
need
 Opportunity for progression/growth

21.  Overcoming negative feelings towards SNAP
or DHS/DSS
 Misinformation
 Transportation

22.  Client Choice
 Chance to put food on the table for their
children
 Keep elderly family members independent
 Make transition to self-sufficiency

23.  Support local food retailers
 Generate economic activity
◦ $5 in new SNAP = $9.20 in community spending
 Support farms
 Leverage Federal funds
 A 5 percent increase in SNAP participation =
$1.8 billion total in new economic activity
Nationwide

24.  Hosting STL Foodbank SNAP Outreach
Coordinator
◦ Help advertise to clients
◦ Help advertise within your community
 Providing accurate information and materials
◦ Work to change perceptions of SNAP
 Refer clients to available services

25.  Training sessions
◦ With STL Foodbank Coordinator
◦ Application Assistance
 Healthy buying and budgeting workshops

26.  Stay informed and up-to-date on legislation
pertaining to SNAP
◦ i.e. Farm Bill
 Write to local legislators

27.  Seniors - vulnerable population that can
sometimes be overlooked
 Senior centers and residential housing
facilities
 Partnering with Meals on Wheels program
◦ Homebound Seniors – home visits and provide
application assistance

28.  Children
◦ School pantries
◦ Partnering with School districts in our service
territory

29.  USDA Food and Nutrition Service
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/faqs.htm
 Feeding America
http://www.feedingamerica.org
 National Hunger Hotline
1-866-3-HUNGRY
 DHS (IL) or DSS (MO)
◦ http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30357
◦ http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/fstamp/

30.  Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year
2009, USDA FNS
 Feeding America
http://blog.feedingamerica.org/tag/snap/
 Illinois Hunger Coalition
http://www.ilhunger.org/programs.html
 SNAP “Putting Healthy Food Within Reach:
State Outreach Toolkit”, USDA FNS
 “The Benefits of Increasing SNAP Participation
In Your State”, USDA FNS