SNAP benefits are distributed via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which function like debit cards. Trafficking typically occurs in two ways:
Forfeiture of their license to accept SNAP (often a death knell for small grocery stores) and criminal prosecution.
"Buying food stamps" is a symptom of broader systemic issues, reflecting the gap between the narrow scope of SNAP and the complex realities of poverty. However, because the program is a cornerstone of public health, the government treats trafficking as a serious threat. Addressing the root causes—such as the lack of flexible cash assistance for the poor—remains the only long-term solution to reducing the black market for food benefits. ineligible items?