Nearly 800,000 Children Lose SNAP Benefits as Hunger Advocates Warn of Growing Crisis

By Stacy M. Brown

Senior Global Correspondent

More than 776,000 children have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits since Congress approved changes to federal food assistance rules, according to a new analysis that found children accounted for nearly half of the 1.67 million people who disappeared from SNAP rolls in a dozen states.

The losses have alarmed anti-hunger advocates because SNAP is often the doorway to other nutrition programs. When children lose food assistance, many families face additional obstacles obtaining free school meals, WIC benefits, and other support designed to keep hunger from disrupting a child’s health and education.

“Losing SNAP also makes it harder for low-income children to qualify for other food assistance, such as WIC and free school meals — jeopardizing the short- and long-term health, education, and economic benefits of nutrition programs for our children and society,” the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities wrote in an analysis of the enrollment decline.

The impact could be particularly severe in the District. The D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute reports that SNAP helps provide healthy meals to roughly half of the city’s children. Researchers there warn that reductions to the program threaten one of the most effective tools available to combat child hunger.

Food insecurity remains a persistent problem in the nation’s capital. According to Feeding America, thousands of District residents, including children, live in households that struggle to consistently afford enough food.

At the same time, work requirements have returned to the District for many adults receiving SNAP benefits. Under federal rules, certain adults ages 18 to 54 without dependent children must satisfy employment, training, or work activity requirements to continue receiving assistance beyond a limited period.

The Food Research & Action Center has cautioned that many eligible recipients can lose benefits because of paperwork barriers, reporting problems, or confusion surrounding the requirements rather than a lack of need.

State officials have begun pressing Congress to reverse course.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones recently joined a coalition of attorneys general urging lawmakers to restore SNAP funding and reject additional reductions under pending federal legislation.

“SNAP helps families put food on the table, supports children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strengthens local economies,” Jones said. “Congress should restore these benefits and protect access to food assistance for those who need it.”

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown joined a similar multistate effort focused on protecting nutrition assistance programs and preserving SNAP benefits in the next Farm Bill.

“At a time when families are already struggling with the high cost of groceries and other necessities, Congress should strengthen food assistance programs, not weaken them,” Brown said.

ProPublica reported that Arizona alone lost more than 205,000 child SNAP recipients following implementation of the federal changes, a decline of 55%. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities separately found that more than 700,000 children nationwide have disappeared from SNAP participation rolls under the new law.

Anti-hunger organizations are also warning about the consequences for summer nutrition programs. The Food Research & Action Center has called for continued support of Summer EBT, which helps families buy groceries when children no longer have access to school breakfasts and lunches during summer break.

For advocates who work directly with struggling families, the issue remains urgent.

“At a time when food prices remain high and many families are struggling to make ends meet, reducing access to nutrition assistance moves us in exactly the wrong direction,” Brown said. “No child should go hungry because Congress chose to cut food assistance.”