The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is nationally cited as the “nutrition safety net of the nation”. In Oklahoma, food benefits are issued to more than 600,000 adults and children each month. The purpose of SNAP is to supplement eligible household’s monthly food budgets and raise nutritional levels of low income households causing an improvement in the general health of the nation as a whole. SNAP makes available the same food choices to all persons in an effort to meet a variety of individual needs. Nutrition education is also available and is personalized to meet specific needs of each household.

Eligibility for SNAP benefits is based on need. This means the amount of food benefits is based on the number of people in the household and the amount of income available to the households. The following information will be requested during the application process:

1. Names and social security numbers for all household members
2. Income (both earned and unearned) of all household members
3. Shelter expense responsibility, such as rent or mortgage payments
4. Utility expenses responsibility, such as electric, gas, water and garbage, etc.
5. Out-of-pocket medical expenses responsibility if there is a disabled member of the household or a member age 60 or over
6. Child support obligations
7. Child care expenses.