People who are not citizens of the United States but live in the country can sometimes get monthly payouts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These situations sound bad. What do you need to know to get extra help?
The renewed Food Stamps program is a government aid program that helps people and families who can’t afford to buy food because the prices are too high. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) runs this program, which gives money through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to help millions of people meet their food needs.
Eligibility for Non-Citizens
When it comes to non-citizens, the eligibility criteria are specific:
- Lawfully present non-citizens are eligible to claim SNAP benefits, according to the USDA.
- Undocumented non-citizens are not eligible for SNAP benefits.
- Students and tourists are also ineligible to claim these benefits.
Noncitizens who are legally present in the country can get benefits, but they have to meet certain requirements. But it’s important to remember that the program is open to all children under 18 years old, no matter what passport they have.
This organized method makes sure that SNAP benefits get to people who need them while keeping clear rules on who is eligible.
It can be hard to figure out who is eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, some groups can say they are eligible right away as long as they meet both the financial and non-financial requirements. Let’s look at who is eligible and what the exact requirements are.
SNAP is mostly for U.S. citizens, but people who are not citizens can also get it if they meet certain requirements. You need to know these requirements to see if you or someone you know might be able to get this important help.
What can SNAP buy?
Funds provided by SNAP can be used to purchase a wide variety of food items, including:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Bread and dairy products
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Non-alcoholic beverages
However, there are restrictions on what you can buy with Food Stamp benefits. These funds cannot be used to purchase:
- Non-food items
- Alcohol or tobacco
- Vitamins and supplements
- Hot prepared foods
- Meals at restaurants (with some exceptions for elderly or disabled individuals)
Knowing the rules and conditions of SNAP can help people who are not citizens get the help they need and get through the process more easily. According to the rules, Food Stamps can be very helpful in making sure that you and your family eat a healthy diet.
It would be great to have a card that works like a debit card but gives you important perks every month. That’s exactly how the EBT card works. People who get EBT get a card every month that is loaded with benefits. They can use this card to pay for certain food items at certain shops and suppliers by scanning it at the register and entering a PIN.
Who Can Claim SNAP Benefits?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Food Stamps, helps about 42 million people in the United States right now. The exact number of users changes a lot of the time, especially when money is tight. For example, the number of people who got SNAP benefits went up significantly during the COVID-19 outbreak and after natural disasters.
Groups Immediately Eligible for SNAP
The following groups can claim immediate eligibility for Food Stamp benefits:
- Refugees
- Individuals granted asylum
- Victims of severe trafficking
- Individuals with deportation withheld
- Amerasians
- Cuban and Haitian entrants
- Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants (SIV)
Additional Eligible Groups
Certain American Indians born abroad also qualify for immediate eligibility. This includes:
- Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members
- Compacts of Free Association (COFA) citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau
Five-Year Waiting Period
For some groups, there is a mandatory five-year waiting period before they can claim Food Stamp benefits. These groups include:
- Lawful permanent residents (LPR) or Green Card holders
- Individuals granted parole for at least one year
- Conditional entrants
- Battered non-citizens
Exceptions to the Waiting Period
In certain cases, the five-year waiting period may not apply at all. Immediate eligibility is granted if the individual is:
- A child under 18 years old
- Blind or disabled and receiving benefits for their condition
- Lawfully residing in the U.S.
Knowing these requirements can help speed up the application process and make sure that people who are eligible for SNAP benefits get the help they need as soon as possible.