Why SNAP Matters — and Why It’s at Risk
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most effective tool for fighting hunger. In 2023, it helped 42 million people afford groceries during difficult times. SNAP provides monthly food benefits through an EBT card, which works like a debit card at grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Benefits adjust based on income and household size, making the program timely, targeted, and temporary.
SNAP is more than a nutrition program—it’s also an economic engine. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 or more in economic activity, supporting local retailers, farmers, and communities. Food Bank of the Albemarle’s network of food pantries provide an incredible number of meals (more than 7.9 million annually), but SNAP scale is unmatched: for every meal that a food bank can provide, SNAP provides nine.
One of our neighbors, Erica, takes care of her father as a full-time caregiver. Her family relies on SNAP benefits, their local food pantry, and other sources to get the food and nutrition they need.
“In my house, it’s just my husband, my father, and me, and we have two small children,” Eric says. “I had to quit my full-time job to take care of my dad. I wouldn’t be able to feed my children or my dad if we didn’t have SNAP benefits, if we didn’t have the food pantry to help us in those few days and weeks in between when those benefits get replenished.”
Strengthening SNAP Through the Farm Bill
Because SNAP policy is largely set through the farm bill, reauthorized roughly every five years, the upcoming bill presents an opportunity.
- Bolster SNAP’s purchasing power so benefits keep pace with rising grocery prices. With 1 in 6 people turning to charitable food assistance in 2022, strengthening SNAP would help shorten food bank lines.
- Streamline eligibility and enrollment, especially for older adults, students, veterans, working families, immigrants, and others who face administrative hurdles.
- Enhance employment support by investing in robust state employment and training programs so participants can find and maintain work without losing access to food.
- Ensure parity for Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, allowing full participation in SNAP, and support Native communities in administering the program themselves.
These improvements are critical to ensuring families can consistently access nutritious food—especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
What Critical Changes are Happening with SNAP
The Republican megabill passed in July (H.R. 1) introduced the most sweeping restructuring of SNAP in the program’s history—changes that could undermine its effectiveness and destabilize state safety nets.
Massive Cost Shifts to States
For the first time ever, states will be required to pay a share of SNAP food benefit costs—a shift that could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars per state each year beginning in October 2027. Historically, federal dollars have entirely funded SNAP benefits. In North Carolina, it’s expected to be close to $438 million.
Because states must balance their budgets annually, many may respond by:
- Cutting food assistance
- Restricting eligibility
- Reducing caseloads
- Or, in extreme cases, opting out of SNAP completely
As of January 2026, the North Carolina legislature have not passed a budget and may not until April. North Carolina is the only legislature in the US that did not pass a budget last year while House and Senate Republicans disagree on delaying scheduled income tax cuts.
Compounding this, states’ required payments will be determined using error rates from recent years—rates affected by circumstances outside their control, including rushed new rules and administrative disruptions. Only states with an error rate of 6% or lower will have SNAP fully funded by the federal government. In 2024, North Carolina’s SNAP error rate was 10.21%. For comparison, the highest SNAP error rate was Alaska at 24.55%.[i]
Administrative Strain and Rising Error Rates
States face a perfect storm of challenges:
- Rushed implementation: The USDA delayed detailed guidance on many new SNAP rules, then required states to apply them retroactively.
- Government shutdown disruption: The 43-day federal shutdown caused unprecedented delays in issuing benefits and diverted state staff away from implementing new policies.
- Historic cuts to administrative funding: Starting October 2026, states will see their federal administrative reimbursement cut from 50% to 25%, removing nearly $25 billion in support through 2034.
All of this increases the likelihood of mistakes in determining benefits. Higher error rates will, in turn, trigger even larger cost shifts to states.
With so little time to course-correct—many FY2025 and FY2026 eligibility decisions are already made—states are scrambling. Some have begun adding more paperwork and verification requirements in an effort to reduce errors, which risks pushing eligible households off the program.
Human Impact: What Families Stand to Lose
The consequences of these changes are far-reaching. Millions of low‑income households—most of them including children, seniors, or people with disabilities—could lose the support they rely on to afford food.
Without SNAP:
- Children may lose access to school meals.
- Seniors could be forced to choose between food and medication.
- Parents may go without meals to ensure their kids can eat.
- Entire states could see widened hunger gaps and economic strain.
These outcomes are especially troubling at a time when food prices remain high and families report increasing difficulty affording basic needs.
“I’m on a fixed income now; I’m retired,” said Gladys. “Things are a little different now that I’m not working. When I’m grocery shopping, things have gone up tremendously, and some things you just can’t buy now when you used to could buy most things you wanted.”
Urgent Action Needed
A bipartisan coalition of state and local organizations is calling on Congress to:
- Delay the SNAP cost shift for all states by at least two years, not just the handful granted delays under the megabill.
- Delay the 50% reduction in federal administrative reimbursement so states have the resources needed to reduce errors without restricting access.
- Ultimately repeal the cost shift to preserve SNAP’s role as a reliable nationwide anti-hunger program.
States need time, guidance, and adequate funding to administer SNAP effectively—without undermining access for the very people the program is designed to support.
Fast Facts About SNAP
- 81% of SNAP households include a child, senior, or person with disabilities.
- Benefits are typically spent within weeks, providing immediate economic stimulus.
- SNAP expands during economic downturns and contracts as conditions improve.
- Participation supports long‑term employment stability for working-age adults.
- SNAP participation reduces annual health care costs by an average of $1,400 per adult.
[i] https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/congressional-delay-of-snap-cost-shift-urgently-needed-to-protect-food
