SNAP benefits: Which states are spending less on food stamps?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, is a government assistance program that provides eligible low-income individuals and families with funds to purchase food.

The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture in cooperation with state governments. It aims to alleviate hunger and improve the nutrition and well-being of its beneficiaries, who number more than 30 million.

SNAP is the country’s biggest initiative to fight hunger, but it faced reductions as many states planned to slash benefits earlier this year. Families in a number of states saw their allotments shrinking to their pre-pandemic levels despite increasing grocery prices.

SNAP benefits: Which states are spending less in food stamps?

According to GOBankingRates, four states have seen double-digit reductions in SNAP enrollment.

New Jersey

The state of New Jersey saw a decrease of almost 11% in SNAP enrollment between last spring and the spring of 2023, with the number dropping from around 864,000 to 770,000.

Per GOBankingRates, residents are unable to get their benefits because of a lack of awareness. Some potential beneficiaries do not have access to information on SNAP, or do not know how to apply for it.

Maryland

Meanwhile, in Maryland, SNAP enrollment went down by 11.7%. According to the Baltimore Banner, the drop took place after the state re-imposed eligibility check-ins- a federal requirement- that were put on hold during the pandemic.

Arkansas

Between March last year and March 2023, SNAP enrollment plunged more than 20% from 302,000 to 241,000.

The state had tightened eligibility requirements for Medicaid as part of phasing out policies enforced during the pandemic, and these requirements were tied to SNAP benefits. Because of this, enrollment in SNAP plummeted along with sign-ups for Medicaid.

Alaska

The state with the biggest decline in SNAP enrollment is Alaska, with a whopping 70% drop from over 96,000 to some 29,000.

According to Anchorage Daily News, the state had a 57% error rate in paying out food stamp benefits during the last fiscal year, the highest of any state in the country and five times the US average. Alaska officials say their error rate was higher because allocations are much larger than they are for other states.

How do beneficiaries receive SNAP assistance?

SNAP benefits are distributed through an Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT card, which functions like a debit card and can be used to buy eligible food items at authorized retailers, including grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmers’ markets.

The types of food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, bread, cereals, and certain other staple foods.