Sudden cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are leaving 42 million Americans with less access to food for themselves and their families.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Congress authorized “emergency allotments” to SNAP participants. These extra benefits were implemented in March 2020 and provided food insecure households with extra funds to support their families through difficult times.
Unfortunately in December of 2022, cuts to the food assistance program were signed into law, leaving little time for states and individuals to prepare for less access to food. The reductions to the program were set to be implemented at the beginning of March 2023 for the 32 remaining states that were still issuing “emergency” allotments due to the pandemic. Eighteen states had already ended their emergency allotments for SNAP towards the last half of 2022.
The timing of these cuts coincide with inflation across the country - including transportation, utilities, housing costs, and groceries. In January of 2023, groceries cost over 11% more than in January 2022, making the timing of these cuts especially challenging for households. The cost of eggs, for example, has increased 70% from January 2022 to January 2023.
In 2022, the average SNAP monthly payment per household was nearly $450. Participants of SNAP can expect to see their monthly benefits shrink with a family of four experiencing a benefit cut of nearly $330 per month. Elderly Americans are especially vulnerable, and could see their SNAP benefits drop from over $200 to as little as $23 a month.
In an interview with CBS News, Ellen Vollinger, SNAP director at the Food Research & Action Center stated, "This hunger cliff is coming to the vast majority of states, and people will on average lose about $82 of SNAP benefits a month. That is a stunning number."
Who Do These Cuts Impact
The majority of participants enrolled in SNAP are families with children, seniors, or disabled individuals. Over 85 percent of SNAP benefits go to households that include children, seniors, or disabled individuals. A total of 92 percent of SNAP benefits go to households at or below the federal poverty level.
About 37 percent of SNAP participants identify as White, 26 percent identify as African American, 16 percent as Hispanic, 3 percent as Asian, and about 2 percent as Native American, although there isn’t much data gathered on Native American communities with SNAP. The last 16 percent of SNAP participants are categorized as “race unknown”.
The Looming Hunger Cliff
18 states have already cut their emergency allotments to SNAP, and food banks are experiencing the devastating impact of families unable to access groceries.
Georgia was one of the states that ended benefits in June of 2022. Via email, a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp stated Georgia residents don’t need the additional help, citing a strong economy and a low unemployment rate.
The spokesperson continued in the email, “If any Georgian or Georgia families are experiencing food insecurity, we have many other statewide programs to help support them.”
Food banks in Georgia are having a different experience than expected, though. Many food banks in the Feeding Georgia network have seen an increase in customers since the emergency benefits ended, with some even experiencing double the demand. The Executive Director of Feeding America, Danah Craft, told Pew Research, “food banks are so overwhelmed they are no longer able to feed people with their usual donations, forcing them to buy food instead."
The Atlanta Food Bank has also been experiencing a significant increase in demand. "Like many food banks across the country, we are experiencing that lines are getting longer," Kyle Waide, the president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, told CBS News. "We've seen a 40% increase to our network over the last 15 months."
The increase in demand isn’t just localized to Georgia - food banks are experiencing a significant increase across the country. In the 18 states that have already cut emergency allotments, there are higher rates of skipping meals, which is up 3%, relying on others and food pantries to get access to groceries increased 9%, and 2% have been eating less compared to December 2022.
According to Feeding America, nearly three quarters of their food banks have reported an increase in demand after the emergency allotments ended. "We are transitioning from a pandemic crisis to a hunger crisis," said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at Feeding America.
Overall, it’s been found that SNAP provides 9x the number of meals the food bank network does.
The 18 states that have already ended these emergency allotments include; Alaska, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
How The SNAP Cuts Will Impact Your State
For the remaining 32 states, you can expect to see SNAP benefits end on March 1, 2023. These states will see SNAP benefits fall to $6 per person per day. The steepest cliff will be for many older adults who only qualify for the minimum SNAP benefit - dropping from $281 a month to $23.
Many states have other programs in place to help with food insecurity, like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch Program, and the School Breakfast Program. Most of these programs, however, have strict qualifications that may not apply to many individuals and households.
See how the SNAP reductions will impact your state below:
- More than 390,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $67 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 711,000 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 2.9 million households will be affected.
- The state will lose $520 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 3.5 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 286,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $55 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 474,400 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 219,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $34 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 364,000 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 60,400 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $13 million of federal funds per month.
- Will be implementing legislation that sets a $95 minimum for Delaware SNAP households.
- More than 93,900 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 90,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $14 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 65,700 people in total are food insecure.
Guam:
- More than 11,700 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $2 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 83,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $17 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 136,100 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 1 million households will be affected.
- The state will lose $183 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 63,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $15 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 281,500 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 450,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $74 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 640,500 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 91,500 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $18 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 139,400 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 360,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $69 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 543,600 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 628,700 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $96 million of federal funds per month.
- Will be allocating $130 million for three months of partial extra SNAP benefits after the federal extra SNAP pandemic benefits end.
- More than 497,200 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 705,300 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $131 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1.1 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 235,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $50 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 338,000 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 240,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $47 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 332,000 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 388,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $7 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 794,400 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 390,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $75 million of federal funds per month.
- Will be implementing legislation that sets a $95 minimum for New Jersey SNAP households.
- More than 657,300 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 259,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $41 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 271,200 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 1.6 million households will be affected.
- The state will lose $228 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1.8 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 813,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $160 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1.2 million people in total are food insecure.
Ohio:
- More than 673,300 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $127 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1.3 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 325,600 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $55 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 514,900 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 416,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $71 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 407,800 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 1 million households will be affected.
- The state will lose $194 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 1.1 million people in total are food insecure.
- More than 81,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $13 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 88,500 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 1.3 million households will be affected.
- The state will lose $277 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 3.7 million people in total are food insecure.
Utah:
- More than 77,300 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $14 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 288,900 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 41,300 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $7 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 56,000 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 11,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $2 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 470,000 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $88 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 658,400 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 517,500 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $94 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 638,200 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 169,900 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $36 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 217,600 people in total are food insecure.
- More than 346,600 households will be affected.
- The state will lose $78 million of federal funds per month.
- More than 415,400 people in total are food insecure.
What’s Next
The end of these emergency allotments may be the least of our concerns, considering there has been a push from Republicans in congress to cut more SNAP benefits in 2023. This proposal comes at a time when our food insecure communities need more - not less.
Advocating for the SNAP program and increased benefits to your government and congress is one way to help support the communities that need it most. You can also support local food banks to keep their shelves full by hosting a food drive or fundraiser, or simply by donating unexpired, non-perishable items to a food bank or pantry near you.
You can also donate to Move For Hunger to help hungry families in need. As little as $25 will help provide over 60 meals for food insecure communities.
