Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The United States Federal Government funds a program called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, as a method to alleviate food insecurity (Grieger, L., & Danziger, S. 2011; Gundersen et al., 2011; Mammen et al., 2009; Mykerezi, E., & Mills, B. 2010; National Commission on Hunger, 2015; Ribar, D., Edelhoch, M., & Liu, Q. 2010; SNAP, 2016). SNAP is the largest food assistance program implemented by the federal government and is jointly administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, and state agencies (Gundersen et al., 2011; Mykerezi, E., & Mills, B. 2010; National Commission on Hunger, 2015; SNAP, 2016). SNAP gives monetary stipends to households to buy food if their income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The stipend is based on income level and the size of the household. For a household to be eligible for SNAP benefits they …show more content…
Individuals who do not have children must have a job and work 80 hours per month. If they do not have a job, they must participate in a training program or workfare for 20 hours per week. These requirements are in addition to the general work requirements of individuals who are recipients of SNAP with dependents. An individual who does not meet the additional work requirements are subject to the time limit, which means they are restricted to only receive three months of benefits out of the 36 months (Gundersen et al., 2011; Johnson, V., 2010; SNAP, 2016). The time limit inadvertently effects many college students, who are unable to work and attend college full-time. Being enrolled in college full-time is the equivalent to being employed at a full-time job, so for many students attaining 20 hours per week is