State agencies administer the SNAP program on behalf of USDA under provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. SNAP offers nutrition assistance and provides economic benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families. This program meets our criteria for disclosure to administer an income maintenance program. SSA has data exchange agreements with the state agencies under which we provide them with information to administer SNAP.

We may disclose certain tax return and non-tax return information, including Social Security Number (SSN) verifications, regarding applicants who have applied for SNAP benefits under provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977. For more information concerning the disclosure of tax return information without consent to USDA, see GN 03320.015. For information concerning disclosure and verification of SSNs without consent see GN 03325.002.

The Social Security Act provides that the Secretary of Agriculture may require each applicant retail store or wholesale food concern to furnish to the Secretary of the Agriculture the SSN of each individual who is an officer of the store or concern for use in determining those applicants previously sanctioned or convicted under the Food Stamp Act of 1977. We may verify the SSNs of food stamp retailers or wholesale food concerns when requested by USDA in these circumstances and consistent with the Food Stamp Act of 1977 .