Final answer:
A customer needs an EBT card to pay with food stamps under the SNAP program.
Step-by-step explanation:
To pay with a food stamps card, which is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the customer must own an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. This card acts like a bank debit card and can be used at participating stores for eligible food purchases. The benefits are issued on this EBT card monthly, and the amount varies based on factors such as income, number of children, and other household circumstances.
SNAP is designed to help households spend about 30% of their net income on food. The program ensures that if a household cannot afford a nutritionally adequate diet with 30% of their income, they receive additional aid to complement their food budget. It's worth noting that SNAP benefits are specifically allocated for food items, which is why they are distributed via an EBT card rather than as cash. This method aims to ensure that the aid is used as intended to foster better nutrition among recipients.