History of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program/Food Stampsby Tori Penney

What is SNAP?

SNAP, or Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, is a government-funded program that's purpose is to provide food and nutrition to United States citizens who cannot afford it on their own. Over time, the purpose of the program has shifted, and it has since become a very controversial program. This program has great effects on our countries health, well-being, and economics.

Agricultural Adjustment ActMay 16, 1933

The Food Stamps program was established in

response to the Great Depression in 1933, when

many families could not obtain their own food.

SNAP began with the Agricultural Adjustment Act,

issued by FDR. This act allowed the government

to buy surplus products and dispense them

through programs that fed the needy. There was a

large surplus during this time because no one

could afford to buy food.

Agricultural Adjustment Act, continued1933

The total cost of this program was $262 million dollars, and it was used by 20 million people during its first four years.

This program ended because there were no more surplus foods, nor was there an excess workforce, meaning the purpose of the program had been fulfilled.

Food Stamps Program1939

In 1939, the first food stamps program was created, called the Food Stamps Plan. This was a large part of the New Deal. It ended in 1943, when economic growth spurred by WWII decreased the amount of poor, hungry families.

Food Stamps Program, Continued

The Food Stamps Program consisted of two kinds of stamps, orange and blue. Orange stamps could buy anything, such as matches, soap, and starch, except alcohol, tobacco, or food meant to be eaten within the place it was purchased. Blue stamps could only buy surplus foods.

For every one dollar worth of orange stamps, fifty cents worth of blue stamps were provided.

Pilot Food Stamp Program (PL 88-525)May 29, 1961 - 1964

Eighteen years later, the Pilot Food Stamp Program began. Initiated by John F. Kennedy, the program was explored in order to fight the recession. These stamps were still purchased but there were no longer surplus stamps. This program focused more on perishables and less on staple foods such as flour and sugar.

The first recipients, the Muncy family, were members of Paynesville, West Virginia. They purchased $95 worth of stamps to put 15 servings worth of food on the table. They bought a can of pork and beans.

Food Stamp Act of 1964

In this Act, the Food Stamp Program was made permanent. This bill was aimed at increasing the nutrition of low-income people and strengthening U.S. agriculture.

The act chartered:● Allowing the states to determine need ● The requirement to purchase the stamps ● Allowing people to purchase all foods except those which were imported or alcoholic

beverages● Prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, political beliefs, or national origin● Official divisions of responsibilities between states and the federal government● First year costs limited to $75 million, the second year $100 million, the third $200

million

Participation Growth after Act of 1964

1965: 561,2611966: >1,000,0001977: 2,000,0001971: 10,000,0001974: 15,000,000

1970’s: Major Changes & Expansion

● P.L. 91-671 created standards of eligibility

● P.L. 93-86 required states to expand the program to all counties, and allowed drug addicts and alcoholics that were in rehab

● P.L. 93-86 made the program effective throughout the country

Food stamp act of 1977 (S. 275)

● Most importantly, eliminated purchase requirement (like food stamps today)

● Got rid of categorical eligibility, requirement that houses have cooking facilities

● Established eligibility at the poverty line● Reduced the amount of deductions included in

computing net income● Raised the limit to $1,750/household● Penalized families whose head quit job● Restricted eligibility for students & aliens● Fraud Disqualification● Also created many new and effective ways to

manage and apply for the program

Early 1980’sUnder President Reagan, major cuts were

made via these changes:

● More penalties for those who quit their

jobs

● State option to require recipients to

search for jobs

● Counting retirement accounts as

resources

● Looking at gross income rather than just

net income

● More adjustment periods

1984- EBT starts (Electronic Benefits

Transfer)

Late 1980’s

● Increased max benefits to $2000● Elimination of sales tax on food

stamp purchases● Eligibility for homeless● Creating nutrition education

grants● Simplifying procedures to

determine eligibility and allowance

● Expanding EBT

1990’s

Due to the increasing amount of hungry Americans, a large amount of funding was reinstated.

● Elimination of Shelter Deduction Cap● Establishing deductions for those who

owe legally required child support● Raising the amount of money allotted

per child● Expansion of EBT

2000’s

During the 2000’s, SNAP gained a significant amount of participants.

2000’s, continued

From 2000-2008, many changes were made. Eligibility was given to minors and immigrants. EBT cards totally replaced stamps. These cards helped limit fraud, increase efficiency, and allow participants to purchase without stigma.

EBT is used in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

Plastic Card, With money alloted once a month. PIN

Benefits can now buy

Food

Seeds

Some food at qualified restaurants if you are disabled, homeless, or elderly.

2008-Current

In the 2008 Farm Bill, food stamps was renamed to SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Lately, legislators have been focusing more on nutrition and allotting SNAP funds to healthy purchases. Proposed ideas have been to ban soft drinks, sweets, and frozen foods.

14% of the U.S. population benefits from SNAP (Thats more than 45 Million Americans)

Current

The number of Americans on food stamps went up by more than 80 percent between 2007 and 2013.

On average, $4.39 a day is awarded per recipient

Works Cited

“A Short History of SNAP.” United State Deparemnt of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition Service. November 20, 2013.http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap

Anderson, Kelly. “Food Stamps in the US.” Intuit. https://www.mint.com/food-stamps-in-the-u-s/

James, Randy. “Food Stamps: More Americans Relying on Uncle Sam to Eat.” TIME. September 14th, 2009. http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1921992,00.html

“SNAP/Food Stamps.” Food Research and Action Center. http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/snapfood-stamps/

Stiglitz, Joseph. “The Insanity of Our Food Policy. The New York Times. November 16th, 2013. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/16/the-insanity-of-our-food-policy/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1

“The History of SNAP.” The Atena Foundation and the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. 2014. http://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/the-history-of-snap/