In order to be eligible for the assistance, a household has to meet certain net and gross income tests. Furthermore, much attention is paid to the number of people within a family. For instance, a family consisting of five members should have a net monthly income below $ 2, 298, while their gross income should not exceed 2,987 to be eligible (The United States Department of Agriculture, unpaged). Furthermore, there are some resource requirements that can differ across various parts of the country. For instance, people, who have a bank account of more than $ 2000 or a vehicle, may not be eligible for assistance. Yet, eligibility criteria can vary across the country.
The assistance that is offered to a person or family depends on several factors. First of all, governmental officials pay attention to the size of the households. Secondly, they focus on the age of a person and possible disability. Overall, an individual is entitled to purchase goods containing nutrients that are essential for a person’s health. However, the assistance offered depends on the specific circumstances.
A person can call a SNAP hotline number to apply for this assistance. It should be kept in mind that these numbers are usually toll-free (The United States Department of Agriculture, unpaged). In this way, a person can learn about eligibility requirements. Moreover, it is necessary to visit count offices where one can fill out the application form.
A person can receive food stamps for an unlimited period of time, provided that he/she meet the eligibility requirement set by the government. Nevertheless, an individual can be denied this assistance, if his/her income increases. However, the decision taken by governmental officials may depend on other factors, for instance, the size of the household.
According to the program, an individual can buy various types of products. First of all, people can receive food including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, seafood, and other goods containing nutrients that are necessary for the health of a person. Additionally, a person can purchase plants and seeds that are necessary for the production of food. Finally, soft drinks, cookies, and candies are also included in this passage.
However, there are some products which are not available to a person. people may not buy alcoholic beverages or cigarettes. Furthermore, one cannot buy foods that are sold on premises (The United States Department of Agriculture, unpaged). This is one of the aspects that should not be overlooked.
Overall, I can say that the implementation SNAP has been important for helping many people who are beyond the poverty line. Without this assistance, many adults and even children could be driven to the brink of starvation. To some degree, this program can be viewed as a successful result. Nevertheless, there are important improvements that should be made. First of all, it is necessary to align the application procedures and eligibility criteria because there they differ in various states (The United States Department of Agriculture, unpaged). Additionally, one should reduce the number of fraud cases, since many people, who receive food stamps, do not meet eligibility standards (McGuire 7). This is one of the problems that should not be overlooked.
Admittedly, SNAP may be necessary for helping people who face economic difficulties; nevertheless, it is not sufficient. More attention should be paid to the professional training and employment; otherwise many people can remain dependent on food stamps.
Works Cited
McGuire, Michelle. Nutritional Sciences: From Fundamentals to Food, New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.
The United States Department of Agriculture. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA. 2013. Web.