SNAP is an essential program that helps make food affordable for low-income households. However, a downside to the current program is the eligibility factors for receiving assistance. To receive SNAP benefits, a one-family household must make a monthly income under $1,354 while a monthly minimum wage income in NYC is around $2,050 per month before tax. There are many households that are not eligible for food stamps because they make slightly more than the maximum income. However, just because a household isn\u2019t below the requirement or poverty line does not mean that they don\u2019t struggle with food insecurity.\u00a0<\/span>In fact, before the pandemic, only 30% of 37 million people the government considered food insecure had incomes below the poverty threshold.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because of school c<\/span>losures\u00a0<\/span>during the pandemic, children who\u00a0<\/span>quality for\u00a0<\/span>free or reduced-price meals\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>get up to $<\/span>420<\/span>\u00a0per child on their family\u2019s EBT card, which is known as\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>-EBT. Although food assistance programs<\/span>\u00a0have momentarily<\/span>\u00a0increased the amount of money being distributed to users,\u00a0<\/span>they still maintain rigid eligibility requirements<\/span><\/a>\u00a0during a time of uncertainty and fluctuating economic circumstances for households. Another demographic that is impacted by these requirements are the\u00a0<\/span>11 million undocumented immigrants that aren\u2019t eligible to receive most government aid because of their status<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>And even when\u00a0<\/span>immigration status<\/span>\u00a0isn\u2019t a concern<\/span>, some households narrowly miss the requirements which leaves them having to turn to cheap and processed foods<\/span>;\u00a0<\/span>a diet that will do<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>little to support their bodies during a health-related crisis<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While SNAP eligibility requirements may be rigid, many who live with food insecurity are also unaware of their eligibility or lack information on how to use EBT benefits.\u00a0<\/span>Most know<\/span>\u00a0EBT can be used at supermarkets<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>can also be used at farmer\u2019s markets<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0such as Community Food Action\u2019s 170 Farm Stand. Here<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0SNAP users can\u00a0<\/span>get\u00a0<\/span>Health Bucks to<\/span>\u00a0purchase<\/span>\u00a0fresh and local produce. For every $5 spent at farmer\u2019s markets using SNAP on an EBT card, the user will receive $2 in Health Bucks<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newsettlement.org\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/08\/food-security-amanda-4-21-20jpg-1024x576.jpeg\")
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