Final answer:
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and assists eligible low-income households with buying food by providing benefits to complement their food budget.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps, is designed to provide nutrition assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it started as a formal program in 1964. SNAP helps households to afford a nutritionally adequate diet by providing benefits based on their income, number of children, and other relevant factors, with the expectation that households contribute about 30% of their net income toward food purchases. If a household's resources do not suffice for a nutritional diet, SNAP supplements their food budget.