There is a large variety of things that can be purchased using SNAP benefits, which are also known as food stamps.
Raising a child is one of the most terrifying and wonderful things a person can do, but it can also be highly costly and fraught with anxiety and confusion. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of the United States is intended to assist families in consuming balanced and nutritious meals without breaking the pocketbook.
What Can I Buy With SNAP Benefits?
Food stamps can be used to purchase a variety of food items, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish, dairy goods, bread and cereals, snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages, seeds, and plants.
The good news for struggling parents is that they can also be used to purchase baby food and infant formula to ensure that babies receive the proper nutritional balance, regardless of their personal circumstances.
The fact that SNAP benefits can only be used to purchase store-brand baby food and formula as opposed to other, more expensive brands means that parents do not have to make a difficult choice when times are bad regarding what to feed their newborn.
The store-brand formulas meet the same FDA requirements as more expensive products such as Enfamil and Similac. However, they cost up to 50 percent less. This translates to an average monthly savings of 64 dollars on baby formula alone.
EBT is an electronic system that enables SNAP users to purchase food with their benefits.
When you shop at a SNAP-approved retailer, your SNAP EBT card is deducted to compensate the business for the food you purchased. Each month, SNAP monies are deposited into your account.
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EBT Scams
The Iowa Attorney General’s office and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services caution Iowans to be wary of EBT card-related spam text messages.
EBT cards are utilized for the distribution of government benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps.
Both organizations have lately received allegations from Iowans that their EBT cards have been locked through text messages. The message has a phone number for assistance calls. Iowa HHS did not send these messages.
Iowans should never provide their card number or PIN to a third party. By text message, government entities will never require your personal information, EBT card number, or PIN.
The severity of this fraud is heightened by the fact that welfare recipients rely on this cash to feed their families. However, lost advantages due to fraud or deception cannot be replaced. If you are a victim of an EBT scam, you should register a report with the local authorities.
- Do not reply to unwanted communications or click on links within them.
- Do not reply to unsolicited text messages, even to request that the sender stop contacting you. Responding verifies that your phone number is active and that you are willing to read messages, which may increase the number of unsolicited texts you receive.
- Immediately delete any text messages requesting confirmation or personal information.
- If you believe the message may be genuine, contact the company via a verified phone number or website. Not the contents of the SMS message.
The Federal Trade Commission offers more advice for identifying and reporting spam text messages.
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