States with the Highest Rates of SNAP Recipients

millions of americans Reduced stipends to pay for meals have begun this month as the COVID-era incentive for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program expires.

crackle, originally known as the Food Stamp Program, is designed to provide expanded access to food for low-income working Americans, as well as for the disabled and elderly. was scheduled in 2020 widely spread As part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. but those federal expansions ended at the end of februarymeaning home to 32 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the US Virgin Islands will get nowEng At least $95 less per month, sparking fear recipients will face increased food insecurity or hunger as average gains per day falls to $6.10 per person.

According to US Department of AgricultureWho administers the program, an initial number of more than 42 million Americans – about 12.6% of the nation – were participating in the program by November 2022. In some states, this figure reaches 1 in every 5 residents.

The state with the highest rate of participation in SNAP was new Mexico, where 24.3% of the state’s residents were enrolled as of November 2022, nearly 5 percentage points higher than any other state. after new mexico Louisiana (19.5%), West Virginia (18.2%), oklahoma (17.2%) and Oregon (17.0%) were among the states with the highest rate of participation.

Meanwhile, states in the Midwest and Mountain West have lower rates of recipients. Utah4.6% is the lowest in the country.

Part of this disparity is due to differences in eligibility requirements, and part is a matter of what percentage of eligible residents are enrolled. Not everyone is eligible to enroll in the SNAP program. Eligible people without dependents can only receive three months of SNAP benefits in three years, and many recipients must meet certain requirements job requirementswhich some MPs are expected to make hard When Congress will take up this issue this year.

Nationwide, USDA Estimate that about 82% of eligible SNAP recipients participate in the program, including some 98% of eligible New Mexicans and only 56% in Wyoming.

According to the nonpartisan Data Center, SNAP users will receive an average of about $233 in aid per month in 2022, up nearly 80% from 2019’s figure of $130. usafacts, The increase can be attributed to an expansion of benefits as part of pandemic aid and changes made to SNAP benefits as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, which governs the program. Those changes, which went into effect in 2021, increase average per capita benefits with the intent of allowing recipients more access to healthy food.

Occurs during the termination period for boosting SNAP benefits high inflation and the rising cost of food. While general inflation is lower than last summer post pandemic peakThe consumer price index for food remains well above the normal mark.

The states with the highest SNAP participation rates as of November 2022 are: