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Learn how to get nutritious food for yourself and your family through SNAP (food stamps), D-SNAP, and WIC for women, infants, and children. Apply for school meals for your kids and supplemental food for seniors. Find out how food programs can provide emergency help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re hungry now:
Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Information is available in English and Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.
Contact community or religious organizations to find a local food bank or food pantry.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal nutrition program. Known previously as "food stamps," SNAP benefits can help you stretch your food budget if you have a low income.
If you’re eligible, you can purchase food using benefits that are issued to you monthly. You can use your SNAP benefits to buy a variety of foods for your household, including:
See the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) list of foods and products you can buy using SNAP benefits.
To determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits, you must meet certain requirements. States have income limits for SNAP recipients. They can also factor in your resources, such as money in the bank, to decide if you qualify for SNAP.
Use the online map to apply for SNAP and to find your state and local offices and phone numbers. You may also apply in person at your state or local office.
Whether you currently receive SNAP benefits or you're in the process of applying, you can file a complaint using these resources:
Learn how to work with SNAP if you are a retailer or if you operate a farmers market.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be easier for you and your family to get food stamps and take part in meal programs. Contact your state's social services agency to see if you're eligible.
During the pandemic:
Food stamp (SNAP) recipients may receive additional funding. More people may be eligible to receive SNAP during the pandemic than normally.
Parents whose kids' schools are closed can pick up school meals for their kids to eat at home.
People can enroll in food programs remotely rather than in person. This applies to programs for pregnant women, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Read about these and other government meal program changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This short-term program can help you get healthy food for yourself and your young children.
Many low-income women and young children can get healthy food to add to their diet. It’s available through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC also offers nutrition counseling and referrals to health, welfare, and social services.
If you’re applying for yourself, you must be at least one of the following:
Pregnant
Breastfeeding (up to the baby's first birthday)
Within six months of having given birth or pregnancy ending
If you’re applying for your children, they must be under 5 years old.
You must meet other WIC eligibility requirements based on your income, your health, and where you live.
Contact your state or local WIC agency for an appointment. When you call, someone will tell you where to apply and what to bring with you.
Your agency may not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC. In that case, it will maintain a waiting list and use a priority system to decide who will get WIC benefits first.
For more information and help applying, contact your state or local WIC agency. You can also call its toll-free number.
These programs can help you get healthy meals for your children at their school, childcare center, or after-school program.
Children from qualified households with a low income can get healthy meals or milk.
Two programs provide free or reduced-price meals at school:
Schools that don't offer meal programs may provide milk to children at school.
The Summer Food Service Program offers free breakfast and lunch over summer break.
Your children automatically qualify for free meals or milk if:
You receive SNAP (food stamps), TANF (welfare), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
They are foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court
They’re enrolled in Head Start
Your children may qualify if your household income is within the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. These guidelines are based on federal poverty guidelines.
If your income is no more than 130 percent of the poverty level, they should qualify for free meals.
If your income is no more than 185 percent of the poverty level, they should qualify for reduced-price meals.
The summer food service program is open to all children and teens 18 and under at locations around the country. Find a site near you.
Submit an application from the school. You can do this at the beginning of the school year or at any time if circumstances change.
Contact your local school or school district for more information.
Two federally-sponsored programs aim to get nutritious foods to seniors with a low income.
Most states offer these programs for seniors with a low income:
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program - Provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs. Use them at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community farms.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program - Provides a monthly package of healthy food
You may be eligible if you're:
60 or older
Have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines
Live in an area that offers either program
Check the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program map to see if your state offers the program.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and five Indian Tribal Organizations participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
To apply for either program:
Select your state or territory from this nutrition programs contact map.
From the list of available programs, choose a food program for seniors:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
If either program is not on the list, you may not live in an area that offers the program.
You may qualify for other programs like:
Check with your senior community center to learn about other local resources.
If the president authorizes individual disaster assistance for your area, you may qualify for D-SNAP.
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also called food stamps for disaster situations. D-SNAP provides one month of benefits on a debit-type card that you can use at most grocery stores.
Once your state sets up a D-SNAP program, you have about a week to apply.
If you qualify, you receive benefits within three days.
You live where:
The president has declared individual assistance for a disaster
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service has approved states to operate D-SNAP
Yours has requested and received approval to operate D-SNAP
You may qualify for D-SNAP even if you would not qualify for regular SNAP (food stamps) because:
You're out of work or have reduced or delayed income due to the disaster
You're facing costly home repairs or temporary shelter expenses
If you already receive SNAP, you can apply for D-SNAP if you do not get the most allowable under SNAP and have disaster-related losses.
As a separate benefit, you may be able to get free meals for your children or your entire family. School meals programs provide these meals.
Contact your local SNAP office to apply for D-SNAP or find application sites throughout the affected disaster area.
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
Last Updated: June 16, 2022
