Resource Access

About SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) serves as a front-line defense against hunger, providing critical support to help families make ends meet. Research shows that participating in SNAP, the largest nutrition assistance program administered by the USDA, plays a critical role in alleviating food insecurity and improving dietary intake and health.

Our bilingual Resource Access team visits food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, churches and other community sites serving low-income families to offer free pre-screening for SNAP eligibility. We help those who are likely eligible for benefits complete the online SNAP application and provide guidance to prepare them for eligibility interviews. We also provide help applying for energy assistance and other benefits.

The following items are necessary to facilitate the application process:

• Identification (for everyone in the household).
• Social Security numbers (for everyone in the household).
• Utility bills (gas, electric, oil, water and telephone).
• Rent receipt/agreement, mortgage statement and/or tax bill.
• Proof of income (for everyone in the household).
• Medical expenses (if 60 or older and/or disabled).
• Children’s daycare expenses.

Clients must have at least five years of residency in the United States to qualify for SNAP. If undocumented and with children who are American citizens, clients can apply for benefits on their behalf.

Read more about how to apply for SNAP in NJ.

SNAP Emergency Allotments Ending March 1, 2023

In March 2020, SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) increased to help neighbors meet emergency needs during the pandemic. This was known as Emergency Allotments (EA) and has continued for nearly three years. As of March 1, 2023, EA will no longer be provided to SNAP households. All SNAP benefits will return to their regular, pre-COVID benefit amounts. These additional emergency benefits have been in effect since March 2020. The last SNAP emergency allotment will be issued to households in February.

What is the Impact to Neighbors in Need?

It is estimated that households will see an average decrease of about $82 per person per month once the SNAP EA ends. In New Jersey, the minimum monthly SNAP benefit is $95, meaning no SNAP household will receive less than $95 per month in benefit.

The New Jersey Department of Human Services has distributed more than $2 billion in additional SNAP benefits since March 2020. Many New Jerseyans greatly benefited from EA and were able to go grocery shopping with these extra dollars. With the cost of food and other necessities continuing to rise, this will have a devastating impact on families and seniors who struggle to put food on the table.

All SNAP households will receive a letter in the mail in February notifying them of these changes and their new benefit amount.

SNAP & SNAP-Ed Trainings

Bring our SNAP Team to your community! The multilingual CFBNJ SNAP Outreach team is available to provide IN PERSON SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE at your site. Email us at snapoutreach@cfbnj.org so that we can provide onsite, free SNAP application assistance to your clients.
If you can’t make it in person, CFBNJ also offers virtual SNAP and SNAP-Ed trainings for our Network Partners.