SNAP Cuts: By the Numbers

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps) enables millions of low-income households across the country to put food on the table. SNAP provides benefits (now accessed via an EBT card) that participants can use to buy allowed food items. Its purpose was to improve nutrition levels among low-income households while also supporting agricultural trade. A permanent form of the program was officially signed into law via the Food Stamp Act in 1964, although pilot programs had been in place for years before that.
This critical safety net program was among the many programs targeted by the huge legislation package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law in July.

That legislation included some significant changes to the SNAP rules, including mandatory work requirements for many participants (with some exceptions for those who are pregnant, disabled, or meet other specific criteria). The first wave of those changes went into effect on September 1, meaning some families may have already started to feel the impact. Additional changes – like raising the age limit for work requirements from 54 to 64 – will take effect on November 1.

I grew up on food stamps, and many of my relatives still rely on SNAP benefits. They are some of the many Americans who may now be at risk of losing their benefits – which for my family members will mean they will likely go hungry.

Some important stats about the SNAP program, according to the House Agriculture Committee:

42 million Americans participate in SNAP each month – that means 1 in 8 Americans rely on SNAP to put food on the table.
80 percent of SNAP households include a child, senior (aged 60+) or disabled person.
SNAP participants include:
- 16.9 million children
- 7.8 million seniors (aged 60+)
- 4.5 million people with disabilities (below 60)
- 1.2 million veterans
In 2020 alone, SNAP created nearly 45,000 new jobs in supporting industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and municipal services.
SNAP also supported 200,000 grocery industry jobs in 2020, with wages totaling more than $6.7 billion.

How SNAP cuts will impact people in my state

In my state of Pennsylvania, here are some important numbers that illustrate the potential impact of these SNAP changes:

$178 – the average monthly SNAP benefit amount in Pennsylvania (based on 2024 figures, which obviously don’t reflect the new changes)
$6 – what that monthly figure breaks down to on a per-day rate
144,000 – number of SNAP recipients who could lose their benefits as a result of the cuts
45,000 – SNAP recipients in the Philadelphia metropolitan area who could lose SNAP benefits
11,572 – number of people who could lose SNAP benefits just in my congressional district alone
22,000 – number of SNAP recipients in the 27 counties served by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank who could lose SNAP benefits
20 – hours per week (on average) a SNAP recipient must work to meet the mandatory work requirement
Three – maximum amount of time in months (every three years) someone can receive SNAP benefits if they can’t prove they are meeting the mandatory work
11% — portion of PA households that experience food insecurity
78% — percentage of SNAP households in PA that includes at least one person who is working
41% — percentage of SNAP households in PA that includes children
10,404 – number of PA retailers that accept SNAP for purchases
$1.80 – economic impact of each dollar spent on SNAP in Pennsylvania

The importance of SNAP – and why we must protect it

SNAP has been helping many vulnerable Americans access food for more than 60 years. These benefits can’t be used to buy anything except food – and not even all food items are allowed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says receiving SNAP benefits reduces the likelihood of being food insecure by roughly 30 percent and the likelihood of being very food insecure by 20 percent. Keeping this resource in place would seem to be a no-brainer, especially in these challenging economic times when so many people are struggling financially and grocery prices are skyrocketing. And yet promoting access to food and reducing hunger among low-income families doesn’t seem to be a high priority for our current leadership.

What you can do

Call your representatives at all levels to urge them to protect SNAP and other programs that can keep people from going hungry.
Volunteer at organizations that work to support programs and policies focused on reducing food insecurity.
Support local food banks through donations and/or volunteering.
Organize a community garden that would give those in need a way to obtain healthy foods.