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Yes.
The day before federal funding ran out for SNAP, the U.S. Agriculture Department warned retailers against giving discounts to recipients of the nation’s largest food assistance program.
“OFFERING DISCOUNTS OR SERVICES ONLY TO SNAP PAYING CUSTOMERS IS A SNAP VIOLATION UNLESS YOU HAVE A SNAP EQUAL TREATMENT WAIVER,” the Oct. 31 notice said.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps and called FoodShare in Wisconsin, provides food assistance for 42 million low-income people.
Funding ran out because of the government shutdown, though the Agriculture Department said Nov. 3 it would provide partial SNAP funding for November.
Federal regulations state: “No retail food store may single out” SNAP recipients “for special treatment in any way.”
Some retailers offered discounts.
Retailers can apply for a waiver to offer SNAP discounts on healthier food purchases. SNAP cost $100 billion in 2024, 1.5% of the federal budget.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Associated Press: Judges order Trump administration to use emergency reserves for SNAP payments during the shutdown
- U.S. Agriculture Department: Reminder: SNAP-EBT Authorized Retailers Must Comply with the SNAP Equal Treatment Rule
- Wisconsin Watch: Do half the residents in one rural Wisconsin county receive food stamps?
- CBS News: Trump administration will use SNAP contingency fund to pay partial food stamp benefits
- U.S. Agriculture Department: Waiver Requests to Offer Incentives to SNAP Recipients at SNAP Authorized Stores
- Dane County Farmers Market: Instagram post on discounts
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