Study Warns That Cutting SNAP Benefits Will Increase Food Insecurity Among Families

A new study highlights the potential negative impact of proposed reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could leave millions of families facing greater difficulties in affording nutritious food and household essentials. The US Congressional Budget Office estimates that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) could reduce SNAP funding by $186 billion over the next ten years, raising concerns among health experts about the widening gap in food and economic security for approximately 47 million families relying on this critical aid.

The recent research, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, examines how the end of emergency SNAP allotments during the COVID-19 pandemic affected families’ access to food and ability to meet basic expenses. Findings indicate that, following the termination of these temporary benefits, the risk of food insufficiency—a measure of households not having enough to eat in the past week—increased by five percentage points in states that ended the allotments early. Additionally, families reported an eight percentage point rise in difficulty paying for expenses such as rent, utilities, and healthcare.

These results underscore the importance of SNAP as the nation’s largest food and nutrition assistance program. The study emphasizes that even brief disruptions in access to food can significantly affect mental and emotional health, especially among children. SNAP support has been linked to lower levels of stress and depression, and it helps protect children’s development and overall family health.

The research team analyzed data from the Household Pulse Survey, focusing on states that ended SNAP emergency benefits in 2021 and 2022, including Florida, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Arizona, Kentucky, Wyoming, Indiana, Georgia, Alaska, and South Carolina. The nationwide ending of expanded SNAP aid occurred in May 2023 when the COVID-19 public health emergency was lifted.

Further concerns arise as new policy changes expand work requirements for certain groups of vulnerable populations, including older adults, parents of teenagers, veterans, and the homeless. These modifications could lead to more individuals losing access to benefits or being forced to meet more stringent eligibility criteria. With an already overburdened network of food assistance, additional cuts could worsen food insecurity and hunger nationwide.

Experts highlight that how states implement these changes will be crucial. Some may opt to reduce eligibility or cut other social programs to cover costs, potentially leaving millions without support. Dr. Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba stresses the importance of monitoring these policy shifts, especially amid ongoing economic stressors like inflation and unemployment, which further strain families' ability to meet basic needs.

Overall, the study calls for careful evaluation of policy proposals impacting SNAP, emphasizing that maintaining adequate food assistance is essential for safeguarding the health, stability, and developmental potential of vulnerable families.