Hunger doesn’t have to happen.

SNAP helps ensure that no Washingtonian goes hungry.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in Washington as Basic Food, provides low-income households with extra money for groceries.

This federal program assists 500,000 Washington households each month, over 34% of which are families with children. SNAP ensures that low-income households can get food on the table with dignity and choice, giving them flexibility in their budgets to cover the costs of other basic needs.

In addition to helping families, SNAP is a proven economic stimulus. Each month, the program infuses Washington’s economy with over $217,000,000. This money, spent at local grocery stores and markets, leads to more jobs, higher wages, and greater spending across all sectors.

Estimates show that 46% of individuals who are income-eligible for SNAP are not enrolled in the program. Join us in the effort to close this gap.

There’s lots of information out there about SNAP.

Let’s set the record straight.

While undocumented immigrants do not qualify for SNAP, they can still receive benefits on behalf of an eligible family member (such as a child or partner who is a US citizen).
SNAP is not considered in a "public charge" test and will not impact immigration status. Applying for or receiving SNAP will NOT affect a family’s ability to remain in the United States, get a Green Card, or become U.S. Citizens.
If a family doesn’t qualify for SNAP because of immigration status, there are still options for food support. In Washington, legal permanent residents who meet all other Basic Food requirements can still receive extra money for groceries through the State Food Assistance Program (FAP). Learn more here.
Some families worry that receiving SNAP benefits takes money away from other families that may be in more need. This is not true! SNAP is not a fixed pot of funding that can run out - the government is mandated to provide SNAP benefits to anyone who is eligible. There is no cap on the number of people who can participate in SNAP, and every SNAP dollar spent helps grow the economy!
Most people receiving SNAP are employed. Eligibility is based on a household’s overall income and expenses, including housing, utilities, and medical care. That said, unemployment is not a disqualifier for receiving SNAP. In fact, SNAP is a powerful tool to get people back in the workforce through the Basic Food Education and Training Program (BFET).
Every household’s benefit amount will vary, ranging from a minimum of $23 to over $1000 per month. Even with a low benefit amount, SNAP participation can have a significant impact on a household’s budget. Unused SNAP dollars roll over from month to month, so households can save them up as a cushion for emergencies or holidays. There are also several programs that can help SNAP users increase the amount of produce they can buy with your SNAP dollars, such as the SNAP Market Match program. Finally, participating in SNAP can qualify families for other assistance programs, such as free school meals, SUN Bucks, discounted internet, and more. See the full list here.

2025 Washington SNAP Challenge

Make sure your community is educated about SNAP, build relationships with other organizations, and win prize money by competing in the 2025 Washington SNAP Challenge, coming January 2025!

Complete activities spreading the word about SNAP to earn points for your organization. At the end of the month, cash prizes will be given to winners in a number of different categories!

Interest form

Learn more

Help spread the word! Get families in your community get connected to SNAP.

Download digital outreach materials, including flyers and social media content that busts common myths about SNAP. Our SNAP flyer is translated into Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese, Amharic, and Chinese.

Need physical materials too? Request those here.