Many families in our area rely on some form of government assistance, including SNAP benefits. However, many people don't understand the how the program works and how it can benefit those in need.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, formerly known as “food stamps.” The name was changed in 2008 to help reduce the stigma, said Amy Menzel, SNAP Outreach Coordinator at the Capital Area Food Bank.

SNAP enables families in need to purchase food; benefits are stored on a debit card that can be used at grocery stores and farmer’s markets.

One of the Capital Area Food Bank’s goals to increase Northern Virginia’s SNAP participation rate. The participation rate shows how many people who are eligible are receiving funds from the program.

According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, as of October 2011 the SNAP participation rate is 59 percent in Fairfax County. In the state of Virginia, the participation rate is 87.6 percent.

“We still have a long way to go, so if 59 percent participation rate, 41 percent of people who are eligible are not receiving SNAP benefits, which is a large number,” explained Menzel.

Menzel says that there are a lot of barriers to participation in the program, including many myths that people tend to get hung up on.

Some myths include:

MYTH: If one receives SNAP benefits, he or she is taking benefits from other people.

FACT: “Many are concerned that they’re taking benefits from other people, and that’s not the case,” explained Menzel. “SNAP is an entitlement program so anyone who applies and is eligible to receive money to buy food.”

MYTH: If an immigrant is in this country illegally and applies for food stamps, he or she could face deportation.

FACT: Immigrants will not be penalized for applying for SNAP benefits. Menzel explains, “Most adults are eligible if they are legal permanent residents of the U.S. for five years or U.S. citizens. However, often their children are eligible if their parents are not. “

MYTH: If a child receives money to buy food through the SNAP program, they will have to repay the government when he or she turns 18 years old.

FACT: “They will not need to repay now or in the future,” says Menzel.

MYTH: All people who apply for SNAP benefits must come into the office.

FACT: There are many ways for the disabled and housebound to apply for SNAP benefits without leaving home. The Capital Area Food Bank has SNAP outreach workers, like Menzel, who go to people’s houses to help people fill out applications, and paperwork can be mailed in. Eligibility interviews can be done over the phone.

MYTH: The SNAP program has a lot of fraud.

FACT: Not the case at all, says Menzel. SNAP’s accuracy rate is 96 percent, which Menzel credits to offices fine-tuning the SNAP application and distribution process. Fraudulent use in community has dropped to one cent on the dollar, she says.

Not only is the SNAP program beneficial to families in need, it helps stimulate local economies. The SNAP program has the potential to help local economies by giving people more purchasing power and granting local communities federal funding through the program.

“SNAP is really beneficial because you have money to buy food, you have money to buy other things,” said Menzel.  “SNAP acts as an economic stimulus. Every 5 dollars spent in SNAP benefits is 9 dollars generated in economic activity.”

Menzel works with Route 1 nonprofits to help new families with their applications at UCM and Rising Hope UMC. Menzel often hosts a SNAP application workshop at UCM and at Rising Hope on a to help families apply to the program.

For more information about the SNAP program in Virginia, call 800-552-3431.

To volunteer with the Capital Area Food Bank or for more information about the SNAP outreach program visit www.capitalareafoodbank.org.