The United States Food Stamp Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers food assistance programs that help provide food for low to no income families. It is their goal to increase food security and reduce hunger by increasing access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education for low-income Americans (Caswell, 2013, para. 1). Some of the current nutrition assistance programs include “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)”(Caswell, 2013, para. 1). SNAP will be the primary nutrition assistance program of the paper at hand. No matter how morally good it is to try to help reduce hunger and increase food security within the United States, there are still many questions regarding issues with SNAP. This paper will be discussing why there is such a strong support for the program, how it helps the United States as a whole, problems with the program, and why some people are against SNAP.

Time to go to the grocery store with only $29.00 worth of food stamps for the

In the United States of America, there is enough food in this country that the total amount of agricultural exports is enough to feed everyone twice over (Dorsch, 2013). The problem is that even though there is so much food in this country millions of people require assistance to purchase the food and feed their families. Dating back almost 100 years, the now called Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) has evolved to keep up with the changing needs of the Country. In 1933 SNAP was built into Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). The AAA was put into law during the great depression. The purpose of the law was to help farmers deal with the excess supply of crops by having the government subsidize the cost. The government would also distribute these crops to relief agencies and local communities (The History of SNAP). In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Food Stamp Act. With this legislation enacted it was now required to purchase stamps. These stamps also had bonus amounts that were determined by income level. In the 90’s and early 2000s major changes were done to SNAP. The electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card was

People who live in rural America rely more heavily on the federal Food Stamp Program, according to The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. The Institute's analysis found that while 22 percent of Americans lived in rural areas in 2001, a full 31 percent of the nation's food stamp beneficiaries lived there. In all, 4.6 million rural residents received food stamp benefits in 2001, the analysis found.

Many do not know they are eligible, others find the process too difficult. Even those on food stamps benefits can run out before the end of the month, creating tough choice about whether to buy food or pay bills. Charities and churches provide some help but cannot fill the growing need. The food stamp program has a rich history in helping the nation’s poor and it continues to be the nation’s first line of defense against

These limitations force the recipients to make their food stamps last over the given month that they are disbursed; this usually leads them to buying products in bulk. Families that usually worry about having enough food on a day to day basis are given the ability to purchase food products without limitations, tend to focus on quantity over quality. Concentrating on quantity is the determinant food stamp recipients use in making meager choices and over consume low-quality food. More often than not they buy more food that would not be considered healthy or beneficial towards their diet. The increase in weight progressively occurs as the recipients continue to receive the food stamps.

R/s Tonya can’t manage her food stamps and money. R/s the Tonya drags her four children: Shayla (8), Lucas (6), Payton (5), and Kamden (1) around like rag dolls. R/s Tonya asks for money when she runs out of food stamps. R/s Tonya goes to Starting Point methadone clinic every other week. R/s Tonya’s car is nasty with food and spilled drinks. R/s the children are dirty. R/s Payton’s hair is never combed and she keep having lice. R/s Tonya’s light bill is always past due. R/s Shayla has to take care of the little child. R/s at Tonya’s old house the dirty clothes were knee deep.

The Supplementation Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), prior to October 2008 referred to as Food Stamps, was legislatively established nationwide in 1974 by the United States Congress. However, the Food Stamp Act of 1977 established comprehensive reform of the federally supported entitlement program setting the structure of the program today (Food Stamp Act of 1977). SNAP provides in-kind monthly benefits to provide nutrition assistance to low income families and individuals. With over 22 million households in the United States being served by the program in 2014, SNAP continues to be the nation’s largest domestic nutritional assistance program (Hoynes & Schanzenbach, 2015). As a federally supported entitlement program, federal

The food stamp program has been renamed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but for many people, it is the only source of income for food. Following the guidelines of this project, I started with a weekly budget of a mere $60 for my family of two. Based on class discussions, relative poverty is defined as being poor by the standards of one’s own society. According to this definition, I am living in relative poverty. My family fits into three of the demographics of poverty: single parent, female head of household, and a minor child. If I wanted to eat more than pasta and sandwiches for the week, I had to overcome personal preferences and experience in addition to dietary and financial restrictions.

The debate over whether or not citizens on food stamps should be able to buy junk food using food stamps has been a popular, or unpopular, discussion topic that remains through the test of time. Food stamps for some people are simply a means to an end for some, that fact is undeniable. The food stamps program itself cost a substantial amount of money just to keep it running. Many people abuse the program to get what they want instead of what they need, this is why buying junk food with food stamps is a cause of obesity. The buying of junk food through the food stamp program is an unnecessary expense and should not be allowed.

The Food Stamp Program, recently renamed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has been helping serve the citizens of America since 1939. This program focuses on providing food at a discounted price to those who qualify. The past has helped shaped and grow this government program, however, it has also had to adjust and change due to new demands and the changing demographics of the population. SNAP has allowed Americans to provide themselves and their families with nutritious meals at a discounted price. However, if the newly proposed restrictions are implemented there would be fewer options available and limit the recipient’s purchasing power.

In regards to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the purpose of the organization could be described as insuring that eligible, low-income individuals and families have access to nutritional and economic benefits. According to the United Stated Department of Agriculture, SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net (USDA, 2016). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) assists state agencies, nutrition educators, neighborhood, and faith-based organizations to ensure that those deemed eligible for nutritional assistance are able to make informed decisions in regards to applying for the program and are able to access benefits. The FNS also works with state partners and the retail community

1. Migrant and seasonal farm workers may have the poorest health of any aggregate in the United States and the least access to affordable healthcare (Nies, 2011). In Indiana, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to low and no income people and families living in the United States (U.S.). It is a federal aid program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, distribution of benefits occurs at the state level. In Indiana, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) is responsible for ensuring federal regulations are initially implemented and consistently applied in each county. People can apply for this assistance at their local Division of Family Resources. There are also many places that participate in the emergency food assistance program (TEFAP) and food pantries. In Lake County, Indiana, the largest food pantry is the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, which is a TEFAP participant and also a soup kitchen. They are open Monday through Friday during the day. There are also food pantries in trustee offices and churches, but some of them are by referral only. In some cases, the community health nurse can make a referral (in.gov, 2014).

The first idea for a Food Stamp Program came from Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace and Administrator Milo Perkins. The program worked by people buying $1 stamps towards their food and then receiving stamps in return worth 50 cents for every $1 bought. Similar to today the 50 cent stamps could only be used to purchase certain foods that had been chosen by the Department as surplus to need. At the height of its use there were some 4 million people using Food Stamps and over the first four years nearly 20 million people, this cost $262 million (USDA, 2014). The program was brought to an end when there was no longer the food surpluses and unemployemnt that had been seen. During the next twenty years many similar proposals and research took place until September

Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as ‘food stamp program’ is a food procurement assistance which is intended to serve no income and low wage income earners in the United States of America. The government entities who offers this service is the division of children and family services in all the states of America through the food and nutrition service (FNS) which is a part of the department of agriculture.