Food is essential for everyone. If you aren’t sure where your next meal is coming from, you may benefit from one of several food-related government grants for individuals and families. These grants are designed to reduce the instance of food insecurity in the United States.

The main source of free government grants for food is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. To qualify, you generally must have a low income compared to the median income in your area.

SNAP provides money that you can use to purchase healthy food each month using a special debit card, called an EBT card. Most grocery stores accept EBT cards, which work just like regular debit cards when you are checking out.

There are a few other government programs like SNAP that provide food assistance to certain groups of people.

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – If you are pregnant or have children younger than 5 years of age and need help paying for food, you may be able to use WIC benefits to pay for food and infant formula. The program also provides nutrition assistance classes and breastfeeding education. 

•  Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) – If you are at least 60 years of age, you may be able to get supplemental food through this program.

• Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) –  If you live in an underserved community without many grocery stores (sometimes called a “food desert”), your area could receive a government grant to help local businesses sell more fresh, healthy food, like fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats.

Using Unemployment Benefits to Pay For Food

While not a government assistance program strictly for food expenses, unemployment benefits can be used for food as well as other living expenses. Unemployment is paid by the government from taxes collected from employers. If you qualify, you could receive weekly payments to help you buy groceries.

Each state determines its own unemployment qualification criteria. However, most have requirements regarding the following factors:

• Been employed for a minimum amount of time
• Earned wages through payroll rather than through cash (i.e. “under the table”)
• Not been fired for cause

Some states may require proof that you are actively looking for a job while you are collecting unemployment benefits. Unlike some other government assistance programs, unemployment benefits usually need to be applied for each week rather than annually.

Using Disability Benefits to Pay For Food

The Social Security program pays benefits to disabled individuals and certain family members of disabled individuals, which can be used to buy food and groceries. Typically, you can only get disability benefits if you meet the program’s requirements, which take the following factors into consideration:

• How long you have worked 
• How recently you have worked
• How much you have paid into the program through Social Security taxes on your earnings

Along with your contact information, family situation and work history, you generally must provide information about your medical condition, healthcare providers, and medical records. If you qualify for benefits, you’ll get monthly disability payments that you can use to help pay for your food and living expenses.