‘Hunger cliff’ looms as 32 states set to cut food stamp benefits

Hungry cliff looms for millions of Americans as 32 states plan to cut food stamp benefits starting in March.

More than 30 million people enrolled in the Supplemental Food Assistance Program or SNAP in these states will be cut, according to the USDA. Among the states facing reductions are California and Texas, which have the highest number of SNAP recipients with 5.1 million and 3.6 million recipients, respectively.

The cuts come as the end of so-called emergency appropriations, which boosted food stamp benefits early in the pandemic as Americans struggled with a massive economic disruption. While the US is certainly in a more stable position than it was in 2020, households are currently grappling with high food prices – in December, food prices were about 10% higher than a year earlier – which, makes the timing of SNAP cuts particularly challenging, experts say.

“This huge cliff is approaching the vast majority of states, and people will, on average, lose about $82 in SNAP benefits per month,” said Ellen Wollinger, SNAP director at the Center for Food Research and Action, a hunger group. “That’s a staggering number.”

This means that a family of four can cut their monthly allowance by about $328 per month. According to Wallinger, older Americans who receive the minimum monthly allowance may suffer the most. Their SNAP payments dropped from $281 to $23 per month.

Meanwhile, 18 states have already ended their emergency allocations early, with some citing a strengthening economy as the reason. However, in states like Georgia that have cut food aid, food banks have faced surge in demand since June, when benefits were cut, according to Pew Research.

The remaining 32 states that have continued to provide additional aid are losing that extra money in March due to a provision in the 2023 Consolidated Spending Act, signed in December, that emergency appropriations end next month.

Over 40 million on food stamps

Despite the economic recovery, many Americans continue to struggle with food insecurity, experts say. Latest available data shows that the number of food stamp recipients remains high, with 42 million receiving food stamps in October 2022, up 6% from 2020, according to USDA data.

It may seem odd that SNAP enrollment has increased given the country’s unemployment rate is at its lowest since 1969, but many workers still can’t find full-time jobs or build enough hours to pay their bills. Wallinger noted. Most people of working age who receive food stamps work, research Found.

Demand for food bank grows among military families 02:00

“What is sometimes overlooked in this conversation is that so many SNAP households work, but often work on low wages – they don’t work to support the family, so they are still eligible for the SNAP program.” she added.

“Preparing for It”

Because the food stamp cut law was only passed in December, neither states nor individuals have had enough time to prepare, critics say. One food stamp recipient in Colorado tweeted that she had been sent “advice” from the state on how to cope, such as stocking up on non-perishable food while she still had a higher benefit amount.

“We’re cutting your food stamps and we know it’s going to be hard for you to survive, so here’s some advice: don’t say we never did anything for you,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, food banks say they expect demand to pick up as food aid cuts.

“People have to choose between eating on the table and paying rent,” Erin Pulling, CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies, told CBS Colorado. “We are seeing more people than ever in need of food aid.”

Of the food stamp cuts, Pulling said, “We’re gearing up for it.”

Content Source

News Press Ohio – Latest News:
Columbus Local News || Cleveland Local News || Ohio State News || National News || Money and Economy News || Entertainment News || Tech News || Environment News

Related Articles

Back to top button