Reference · glossary
SNAP glossary
The acronyms and terms used across this site, in plain language.
- SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- The federal food-benefit program (formerly food stamps). Pays a monthly amount onto an EBT card for groceries.
- EBT — Electronic Benefits Transfer
- The debit-style card your SNAP benefits load onto each month; you swipe it at the store.
- ABAWD — Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents
- An adult 18–64 with no dependents and no exemption, subject to a 3-months-in-36 time limit unless they meet an 80-hour-a-month work requirement.
- BBCE — Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
- A state option that raises the gross-income limit (up to 200% FPL) and usually waives the asset test. Most states use it.
- FPL — Federal Poverty Level
- The federal income benchmark used to set SNAP income limits (e.g. 130% FPL gross, 100% FPL net).
- OBBBA — One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- The 2025 federal law (effective July 4, 2025) that changed several SNAP rules — the ABAWD age range, exemptions, county waivers, and non-citizen eligibility.
- Allotment
- Your household's monthly SNAP dollar amount. The maximum allotment depends on household size; your actual amount is the maximum minus 30% of your net income.
- Gross / Net income
- Gross income is before deductions; net income is after SNAP deductions (standard, earned-income, shelter, etc.). Eligibility tests use both.
- Recertification
- The periodic renewal of your SNAP case (often every 6 or 12 months). Miss it and benefits stop until you reapply.
- WIC — Women, Infants, and Children
- A separate USDA nutrition program for pregnant/postpartum people, infants, and children under 5 (income limit 185% FPL).
- TANF — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Federal-state cash assistance for low-income families with children. Often opens the door to SNAP categorical eligibility.
- LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
- Help paying heating/cooling bills. Receiving it can raise your SNAP shelter deduction.
- COLA — Cost-of-Living Adjustment
- The yearly update (effective October 1) of SNAP's dollar amounts for inflation.
- SUA — Standard Utility Allowance
- A flat utility-cost figure your state uses in the shelter deduction instead of your actual bills.
- RMP — Restaurant Meals Program
- A state option letting certain elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP recipients buy prepared meals at participating restaurants.
- D-SNAP — Disaster SNAP
- Temporary food benefits for households hit by a federally declared disaster, with relaxed rules.
- Thrifty Food Plan
- USDA's estimate of a minimum-cost healthy diet. It sets the SNAP maximum allotments each year.
- FNS / USDA — Food and Nutrition Service / U.S. Department of Agriculture
- The federal agency (FNS, part of the USDA) that runs SNAP nationally; states administer it day to day.