The federal Food Stamp Program helps low-income people buy food.
Food stamps are coupons that can be used like money to buy only food.
Alcoholic beverages, pet food, tobacco, paper products, or other nonfood items cannot be purchased with food stamps. They're accepted by most supermarkets and grocery stores. Food stamps are given free of charge to households that meet the program guidelines for income and resources. A household can be one person or a group of people who purchase and prepare meals together. If a group lives in the same house but buys food separately, then they may each qualify as a separate household.