Getting Started With SNAP Food Assistance Benefits

Navigating the world of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — often referred to as SNAP or “food stamps” — can feel overwhelming. Sifting through complex information online often causes additional stress that none of us need when we’re worried about where our next meal will come from. We’re here to help with the information and tools needed to get set up with SNAP and help keep healthy food on the table.

This information focuses on SNAP benefits for Oregon residents. Click here for resources about benefits in Washington.

What exactly are SNAP Benefits?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government-funded program for purchasing food when income is low. Benefits are loaded onto what is called an EBT card, some also refer to it as the “Oregon Trail Card”. The card acts the same as a debit card, but the money can only be spent on food products. You bring this card with you to participating stores, farmers markets and food co-ops, and swipe at the register during each purchase. Click here for a map of participating stores, searchable by zip code.

​​Every person’s card has a different amount of money attached to it based upon their personal income and family situation — up to $234 each month for a single-person household or $782 for a family of four. You will receive details when your application is approved. Each month you are enrolled in the SNAP program, this amount will be added to your card and can be used to purchase food. Any unused funds are available for up to one year from the date they’re added to your card.

In addition, many stores and farmers markets participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program for SNAP recipients, which matches up to $20 each day toward locally grown fruits and vegetables.

What can I use SNAP Benefits For?

SNAP can be used for:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products

• Breads and cereals

• Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks

• Seeds and plants that produce food

SNAP can't be used for:

• Alcohol or tobacco

• Live animals

• Pre-prepared hot foods

• Pet foods

• Non-edible products

If you are in need of food assistance beyond what SNAP provides, our FoodFinder tool is a great place to start! Our network of free food markets, pantries and meal sites ensures access to some of the resources that SNAP doesn’t cover.

Who is eligible for SNAP Benefits?

You must be a resident of Oregon and make less than a certain amount of money to qualify for SNAP Benefits. That amount is based on the number of people in your household — the people you share your food purchases with. Check out the table below for details.

What exactly are SNAP Benefits?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a government-funded program for purchasing food when income is low. Benefits are loaded onto what is called an EBT card, some also refer to it as the “Oregon Trail Card”. The card acts the same as a debit card, but the money can only be spent on food products. You bring this card with you to participating stores, farmers markets and food co-ops, and swipe at the register during each purchase. Click here for a map of participating stores, searchable by zip code.

​​Every person’s card has a different amount of money attached to it based upon their personal income and family situation — up to $234 each month for a single-person household or $782 for a family of four. You will receive details when your application is approved. Each month you are enrolled in the SNAP program, this amount will be added to your card and can be used to purchase food. Any unused funds are available for up to one year from the date they’re added to your card.

In addition, many stores and farmers markets participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program for SNAP recipients, which matches up to $20 each day toward locally grown fruits and vegetables.

What can I use SNAP Benefits for?

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products

• Breads and cereals

• Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks

• Seeds and plants that produce food

If you are unsure you are eligible for SNAP benefits, click here to answer a few questions and determine if you qualify.

If you are ready to apply for SNAP click here.

About Emergency SNAP Benefits

Rules for SNAP eligibility have changed significantly in recent years, especially in the wake of the pandemic. To help Oregon families and communities impacted by COVID-19, the federal government has approved an emergency increase to SNAP benefits — at least $95 each month for all SNAP recipients. This increase has been renewed each month since March 2020, but will come to a close once official pandemic emergency declarations end. Visit the Oregon Department of Human Services SNAP FAQ for the most up-to-date information.

Programs like SNAP are incredibly important to ensuring we all have access to healthy food. Yet decades of experience tell us that food assistance alone isn’t enough to truly end hunger for good. That’s why we work so hard to change the policies and systems that cause hunger in our communities. Sign up for action alerts to learn how you can get involved in the fight to eliminate hunger at its roots.

It is easy to feel isolated when experiencing hunger. We are a community of millions of individuals and each of us has a unique story to share. Will you share your experience to help others know they are not alone? to help us all #EmergeStronger?