People commonly refer to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as food stamps. However, SNAP provides the monthly benefits on an electric benefit transfer card, which functions like a debit card. Participants can use the card to pay for food, edible plants and seeds to grow edible plants. However, the program places restrictions on what people can buy with the funds.
Alchohol
People cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase alcohol of any kind. This includes alcohol sold in grocery stores and alcohol people use in meal preparation, such as cooking sherry.
Vitamins And Medicines
Participants in the food stamp program cannot use the funds to buy medicine, vitamins or nutritional supplements. This includes pain killers and diet pills.
Prepared Food
You cannot purchase prepared food from a restaurant, fast food or fully-cooked meals from the grocery store with SNAP benefits.
Pet Food
SNAP prohibits using funds to pay for pet food. All food you purchase with SNAP benefits must be for human consumption.
Tobacco
The food stamp program bans the purchase of all forms of tobacco with the EBT card. This includes cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and chewing tobacco.
Tags: SNAP benefits, This includes, with SNAP benefits, edible plants, food stamp, food stamp program, stamp program