General Information
In July 1982, Congress authorized a capped block grant program in Puerto Rico, called the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). Previously, Puerto Rico ran the traditional Food Stamp Program. The Puerto Rico NAP block grant is authorized under Section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended. NAP is separate from SNAP.
Funding Structure and Participation Levels
Puerto Rico’s block grant pays for 100% of benefits to eligible participants and 50% of administrative costs, with Puerto Rico covering the remaining administrative expenses. The current block grant for fiscal year 2023 is $2,815,630,000. The NAP program must set eligibility and benefit levels to stay within the fixed block grant amount. As a result, an increase in NAP participation may result in the decrease of NAP benefits. On average, NAP serves nearly over 1.4 million participants monthly.
In recent years, Congress has authorized additional funding in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and COVID-19.
Program Administration and Operations
Puerto Rico’s Administration for Socioeconomic Development of Family, administers the program. ADSEF is an agency under the umbrella of Puerto Rico’s Department of Family Affairs. We provide oversight for NAP, similar to its role providing oversight for states’ and territories’ administration of SNAP. Puerto Rico designs its own set of program rules for its NAP. We approve these rules through an annual Plan of Operation.
Program-specific Components
NAP eligibility criteria are similar to SNAP; however, there are several financial and non-financial differences. For example, in NAP, the maximum income limit and benefit levels are lower and there is no gross income test. The block grant also allows Puerto Rico to design a program tailored to their unique cultural, social, and economic circumstances. For example, Puerto Rico operates a Family Markets Program. NAP participants can receive an additional 4% in benefits to purchase local food products from nearby Family Markets. In addition, Puerto Rico’s elderly population receive 20% more in their monthly benefit level.
NAP benefits are provided through an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. NAP and SNAP benefits are not interoperable, meaning it is not possible for a Puerto Rico EBT card to be used outside of Puerto Rico.