FAQ: Food Stamps FAQ: Is the SNAP considered welfare

Enjoy the benefits of SNAP (food stamps) These programs are considered to be social welfare. The U.S. Census Bureau identifies the following two types of public assistance programs as major: social welfare programs or social insurance programs. Social welfare programs typically have a low-income eligibility criteria. the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

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SNAP provides food assistance to families who meet the income and resource requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Electronic Benefits Transfer cards (EBT) are used to send benefits according to the same monthly schedule as the state.

SNAP is the most important anti-hunger program in the U.S., reaching 41.5 million participants — or one in every eight people — for the 2021 fiscal year, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported. Some job-seekers are still concerned that their employers will discover they depend on social welfare programs.

If you’re applying for a new job, the application may have a question asking if you’ve relied on welfare benefits. However, your participation in social welfare programs isn’t part of the public record and employers cannot access this information without your consent.

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Employers will include this question in job applications due to a government incentive called Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This federal credit is available to employers who hire workers who are from target groups like welfare recipients. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this tax credit can be as low as $2,400 and up to $9,000. This tax credit is only available to employers. However, the WOTC offers job opportunities for workers that might not be possible otherwise.

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This article first appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Food Stamps FAQ: Is SNAP Considered Welfare?