Congress passed the Food Stamp (now SNAP) Act of 1977 in order to provide eligible households an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their food budget. Income, resources, and household size determine the amount of SNAP assistance a household receives. The program is administered both by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Montana. Generally, residents of Montana who are eligible to receive benefits include: People who live together and buy food and prepare meals together are grouped as a “household” for SNAP. Husbands and wives, and children under 22 years old living with their natural, adoptive or stepparents must be considered as one household. Household members that wish to be included must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens. Household members that wish to be included must furnish or apply for a social security number. Income and resource guidelines listed in this overview must be met. Able-bodied household members who are age 16 through 59 must register for work, and may be required to participate in a Food Stamp Employment and Training Program unless a specified exemption is met. Additional eligibility criteria exist so you will need to work with your local County Public Assistance Office to determine whether you are eligible for benefits. Note that an interview will be required to confirm your eligibility in addition to completing an application for benefits.