Public assistance

There are two food assistance programs. The first is SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, and it uses EBT cards to distribute $102 billion per year to those in need. The second is TANF which distributes $37 billion in cash and $9 billion of that is spent on food. The rest is spent on childcare, job training and pre-K childcare. The TANF program money can be used for any purchase including fast foods like McDonalds. EBT purchase are limited to grocery stores which until recently included pop and sweets like candy. Certain groups like people 60 and older, people living with disability and homeless people can use EBT cards for any purchase. Today about 40% of adults are obese and a disproportionate number of those are in the low-income groups. One thing the government is trying to do is to limit what kind of food can be purchased under programs like SNAP and TANF. Currently 38 million people get SNAP and 2.8 million get TANF. Under TANF the maximum benefit is $2,600 per month or $31,000 per year. A family of four in MN with incomes under $18,000 per year qualifies for $11,200 in TANF funds. They also receive $8,000 in Earned Income Tax Credit. They are also eligible for $20,400 from SNAP. The state will also help with childcare expenses paying about one half. The family is also eligible for rent assistance which means paying 30% of their income or in this case $5,400 per year in rent, utility assistance up to $1,600 per year, school lunches and free healthcare under Minnesota Care. A typical family can earn $18,000 per year offering childcare for one child. This means no cost to the family for childcare for their two children if one spouse stays home. The second spouse can earn $18,000 by working part time at Walmart.