Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is the New Name for the Food Stamp Program

�The new name reflects the changes we’ve made to meet the needs of our clients, including a focus on nutrition and improvements in program access.

Overview

• SNAP is a nutrition program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• It is designed to help prevent hunger and malnutrition by increasing food purchasing power.
• The intent of the program is to supplement food needs – not to supply food needs.

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Overview

SNAP benefits can be used to buy food or seeds and plants to grow food in a home garden. SNAP benefits can not be used to buy:

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• Alcoholic beverages or tobacco;
• Hot foods ready for immediate consumption or foods to be eaten on the store premises;
• Pet foods;
• Soap or paper products or other non-food items.

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Application Process

• Local departments of social services are responsible for administering SNAP. Applications may be made in person, mailed, faxed, emailed, dropped-off or submitted online.
• Eligibility for SNAP is based on certain criteria that must be verified. This criteria includes:
• Non-financial information
• Resources
• Income

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Bill)

• Increased SNAP benefits by 13.6%

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• For a family of 4, that’s an additional $80 each month in food buying power

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• For Virginia, that’s an additional $128 million annually

How are SNAP Benefits Issued?

• SNAP benefits are issued through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
• EBT has debit card technology; is accepted wherever Quest logo or card logo appears; and is issued by mail or vault supply to meet processing time.
• Benefits are posted by 12:01 a.m. on the first day of month for ongoing households.
• The vendor for the EBT system is ACS.

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SNAP Participation Rates

• The participation rate measures the number of people that are eligible to participate in SNAP

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• As of December 2010, the SNAP participation rate in Virginia was 82%.

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• In January 2011, 397,508 households were served which included 842,225 individuals and $108,318,406 benefits issued.

SNAP EBT and Farmers’ Markets

• The number of farmers' markets licensed to accept SNAP benefits is increasing nationwide. 
• As people discover the benefit of buying fresh, nutritious, local products, farmers and farmers' markets are seizing the opportunity to broaden their customer base by adding a SNAP payment option.

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Total No. of Farmer’s Markets and SNAP Participation

Farmers’ Markets Redemption �(in millions)

Virginia Farmers Market �EBT Program

• Announced February 7, 2011
• Provides incentives for markets/farmers to accept SNAP EBT
• Application period closes February 25, 2011
• May be extended
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Program Funding

• Funding will cover the 2011 market season.
• One Wireless EBT POS Device (which also can process standard credit cards (VISA, MasterCard) and bank issued debit cards)
• First Installment Of SNAP EBT Tokens (debit/credit tokens not included)
• Signage, Flyers, Posters and/Or Other Promotional Items
• Inclusion In Statewide Marketing Plan
• Technical And Programmatic Assistance

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Application Evaluation

• Current FNS Approval To Accept Federal SNAP Benefits
• Accessibility And Appeal Of Market/Farmer To Limited-Income Customers
• Availability Of A Wide Variety Of Product Offerings That Can Be Purchased With SNAP Benefits
• Participation In Other Food Access Programs (e.g. WIC And Senior Farmers Market Programs)

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Application Evaluation

• Organizational Stability Of The Market
• For Markets - Availability Of Critical Infrastructure (e.g. The Ability To Receive Verizon Wireless Signal, Commitment Of An EBT Coordinator, Plans For EBT Project Outreach)
• For Individual Farmers - Availability Of Critical Infrastructure (e.g. The Ability To Receive Verizon Wireless Signal, Number Of Markets Attended Per Week, Location Of Roadside Stand, Plans For EBT Project Outreach)

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Win / Win

• SNAP clients may take advantage of additional options to purchase healthy foods
• Farmers Markets increase their revenue by expanding payment options

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Contact

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• For more information about SNAP, please contact:

Toni Blue Washington,

SNAP EBT Contract Administrator

at

toni.washington@dss.virginia.gov

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• For information about other programs please visit:

www.dss.virginia.gov