Common Misconceptions About Food Stamps, According to Experts September 16, 2022 5 MIN READ Jordan Rosenfeld Written by Jordan Rosenfeld The federal government has a number of programs in place that act as safety nets and support for families at or below the poverty line. One such program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — is designed to support households that are struggling to pay for their basic nutrition. Like other government programs, such as Welfare or Medicaid, critics often misunderstand how the SNAP program works and make assumptions that are patently incorrect. We look at some of the common misconceptions about SNAP and correct them. Myth: SNAP Is Rife With Fraud Critics of government support programs often cite fraud as one of the reasons the program should not exist, yet the program reportedly has remarkably low fraud and abuse rates. In a 2018 report, Time magazine said the fraud rate in SNAP benefits had decreased from approximately 4 cents on the dollar in 1993 to about one cent by 2006. As of 2017, the fraud rate was less than 1.5%. Myth: SNAP Is a Charity Though there is nothing wrong with philanthropic organizations that help people, SNAP is not actually a charity. It’s a government program, just like Social Security or Medicare, and it is designed to help and supplement food for families and individuals struggling to afford basic nutrition. Myth: Food Stamps Are Used to Buy Expensive Food or Alcohol A widespread misconception regarding food stamps, according to Brady McAninch, CEO of HM-Attorneys, “is that recipients purchase harmful things like alcohol and luxuries like crab legs.” The truth, McAninch said, is that “SNAP recipients purchase the same as anyone