Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Delaware are paid according to the same schedule every month, including in December 2022. SNAP is called the Food Supplement Program in Delaware and administered by the state’s Division of Social Services (DSS).

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Eligibility for Delaware’s Food Supplement Program is based on factors such as household income and who lives and eats together. Residents aged 21 or younger who live with their parents must apply for benefits with their parents. The maximum gross monthly income limit for most households is set at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). There currently is no resource test for most households that meet the 200% FPL maximum gross monthly income limit.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income households. Although it is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program is administered at the state level. In Delaware, benefits are loaded each month onto Delaware Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

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EBT cards can be used at most grocery stores and certain other retail locations. You can use SNAP benefits to purchase the following food items:

  • Fruits and vegetablesMeat, poultry and fishDairy productsBreads and cerealsSnack foods and non-alcoholic beveragesSeeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

Among the items you can’t buy with SNAP benefits are alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins, medicines, supplements, live animals, pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products and cosmetics. In Delaware, you also can’t use your EBT card to buy hot meals prepared at the point of sale because it is not among the states that participate in SNAP’s Restaurant Meals Program.

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How To Score EBT Discounts

SNAP benefits in Delaware and elsewhere also come with perks that go beyond purchasing food — including discounts on certain products and services. Here’s a quick look at money-saving opportunities your EBT card provides:

SNAP benefits in Delaware are made available beginning with the second day of the month and spread over the next three weeks. Disbursement dates are based on the first letter of your last name. Here’s the schedule for December 2022:

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