This article is based on the recently released “Characteristics of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households: Fiscal Year 2022 (Summary).”
The USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income households for purchasing nutritious foods. Food assistance programs in the U.S. were first instituted in 1939. Over time, the Food Stamp Program, which is the main federal government program providing food assistance in the U.S., has evolved to be known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As SNAP has evolved, many misconceptions have arisen about the program, its benefits, and recipients. Whether you are experiencing food insecurity or not, it is helpful to debunk common myths surrounding SNAP. Everyone deserves nutritious food, regardless of their financial context.
Myth 1: Those who receive SNAP don’t work.
A common misconception is that the majority of SNAP recipients are able to work, but choose not to because of the SNAP benefits they receive. In fact, 50 percent of SNAP recipients work. In general, SNAP recipients must meet certain work requirements to be eligible for SNAP benefits, unless exempt for a qualifying reason. (For more on SNAP and work requirements, read our previous post here.)
SNAP recipients who are exempt from work requirements have barriers to maintaining consistent employment, including disability, increasing age, and caring for dependents in the home. Even SNAP recipients who do meet work requirements face barriers – low wages, inflation, inadequate childcare, etc. – to earning an adequate amount of income to meet the needs of themselves and their households.
Myth 2: Those who do not work and receive SNAP are able to work but are taking advantage of the system.
While not all SNAP recipients have disabilities that preclude them from work, some recipients encounter other barriers to compensated work outside of the household. Those who are caretakers for children can encounter challenges in earning enough income to pay for child care. Families on average spend 18-24 percent of their income on childcare. At the same time, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services considers child care costs that exceed sseven percent of a household’s income as unaffordable. Unaffordable childcare can prevent those who care for children from working outside of the household for compensation, or enough compensation, to cover the cost of food. Those who care for members who are aging or have disabilities within the household can also encounter challenges that limit their capacity to participate in compensated work.
Myth 3: Recipients receive more help than they need with SNAP.
The average benefit of a person who receives SNAP is $125.80 per month, which approximates to $4.20 a day, and $1.40 per meal. SNAP can assist households in buying nutritious foods, but generally does not cover the cost of all possible nutritional needs. For example, the USDA estimates that a “nutritionally appropriate diet” for a woman between 19 and 50 would cost approximately $163.20 per month, which exceeds the average monthly SNAP assistance. While SNAP without additional income could purchase basic food items, it does not account fully for a household’s complete nutritional needs. SNAP allowances don’t account for varying dietary and caloric needs of household members per sex, age, allergies, dietary restrictions, or lifestyle (manual labor, health conditions, athletics, etc). This SNAP benefit does not make it possible for families to receive financial benefits beyond their household’s most basic dietary needs.
Myth 4: SNAP recipients use benefits on non-essential, luxury items.
SNAP can only be used for specific items. Even some items that are necessities cannot be purchased with SNAP EBT, such as tampons and other personal care items (i.e., toothpaste, diapers, pharmacy items, etc.). Hot, prepared foods are also not SNAP eligible. Additionally, SNAP benefits cannot be used for items that are considered luxury items, including beer, wine, liquor, and tobacco products.
Beyond food, households still need to secure enough income to pay for housing and other basic necessities. SNAP does not provide households with more money than is needed; at most, SNAP provides assistance to allow households to use earned income toward other necessities for a basic standard of living, such as housing, utilities, and childcare.
These myths add up to a prevalent, false, and negative stereotype about people receiving food assistance that is weaponized in discussions about SNAP funding. As we continue to fight for a fair Farm Bill for all farmers, we advocate for protecting SNAP as a program that helps people facing financial and societal barriers cover one of the basic costs of living: food. This is a reminder that anyone may find themselves in a position of needing supplemental food assistance, and that we should advocate for any program that supports individuals and families who are trying to feed and care for themselves wholly.