The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition assistance program in the United States, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It provides monthly electronic benefits that low-income individuals and families can use to purchase food at authorized retailers. Benefits are distributed via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, functioning like a debit card for groceries.
Funded federally and administered by states, SNAP is often the first line of defense against hunger and a critical indicator of population health trends. By reducing food insecurity (a major social determinant of health) SNAP directly influences diet quality, chronic disease management, child development, and overall health outcomes. Research consistently links SNAP participation to lower rates of hospitalization, improved birth outcomes, and better management of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.