- Over half of Americans on SNAP benefits are eating less, a new report found.
- More Americans are skipping meals six months after the end of pandemic SNAP expansions.
- A government shutdown could worsen food insecurity issues, the Biden administration predicts.
Many Americans are eating less and attending food pantries more frequently six months after the end of pandemic-era Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamp, expansions.
Research from software company Propel shows that over half of Americans who use the EBT app Providers reported eating less in September. This compares to around 32% in January 2023, before the expanded SNAP benefits expired — which allowed SNAP-qualifying households to receive up to an additional $95 each month, or an amount that would bring total benefits to the maximum quantity.
Propel analyzed a random sample of nearly 2,600 Providers users from September 1 through September 14. The report showed four food insecurity indicators remained elevated — 39% reported skipping meals, up from 29% in January — while around 30% said they visited a food pantry or relied on family or friends for meals.
SNAP benefits aren't cutting it for most families, as nearly four in five surveyed households spent over $100 on food in addition to their allotment, the report said.
Food prices are still stubbornly high, meaning many families are having to cut back on food purchases to just the essentials. The Consumer Price Index for food may increase as much as 6% year-over-year in 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted — and 7% for restaurant purchases. Even though inflation on the whole has slowed this year, food prices may not drastically come down anytime soon.
As many as 16 million households received reductions to their SNAP benefits starting in March. The Food Research & Action Center estimated participants would lose an average $82 in March, with some households seeing reductions of $250 or more. This equates to just around $6 per person each day.
Over 80% of those receiving SNAP benefits are elderly Americans, working families, or people with disabilities, the USDA said.
Two Gen X moms previously told Insider they had their SNAP benefits reduced to $23 from $516 and $281 respectively, which has made it difficult to put food on the table or pay their bills.
On September 30, the government will run out of funding — and it's unlikely Congress will step in with measures to keep everything funded. Though Social Security payments will continue going out in the case of a shutdown, those receiving food assistance may have more reason to worry.
A shutdown could mean that nearly 7 million low-income mothers and children could risk losing aid from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — or WIC. The USDA has a contingency fund that would only be able to keep the program running for one or two days, said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, after which benefits would be reduced and eventually eliminated. Almost half of newborns in the US rely on WIC, according to the USDA.
Vilsack said in a briefing that SNAP benefits would continue at least through October in the case of a shutdown. "If the shutdown were to extend longer than that, there would be some serious consequences to SNAP," Vilsack said.