Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits did not cover the cost of a modestly priced meal in 98% of U.S. counties last year, according to a new analysis.
The report, conducted by the Urban Institute and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, evaluated data from 2023 and found the USDA’s annual cost-of-living adjustment had little effect on the generosity of SNAP benefits in 2023, according to a news release.
In the last quarter of 2023, a 19% shortfall existed between the $3.37 cost of a moderately priced meal and SNAP’s average maximum benefit.
In the first three quarters of the year, SNAP benefits fell $58.59 short of monthly food costs. By the end of 2023, SNAP benefits fell short of monthly food costs by $49.29.
The gap between the cost of a meal and the maximum benefit was larger in urban areas than in rural areas, according to the release.
The gap between SNAP benefits and meal costs remained about 70% throughout 2023 in the in the five counties with the largest gaps: New York County, N.Y.; Leelanau County, Mich.; Teton County, Idaho; and Dukes County and Nantucket County, Mass.
“Food insecurity increased for the second straight year in 2023 after inflation rates remained higher than average and household budgets stayed tight,” Elaine Waxman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, said in the release. “For many families, SNAP provides them with the support they need to keep food on the table. Our research shows SNAP benefits did not cover the cost of a meal in 98% of counties in 2023. With the farm bill up for reauthorization, potential cuts to SNAP could be devastating for families with low incomes, who are already struggling with food insecurity.”
“In recent years, the data show that more and more people cannot keep up with rising food prices and are struggling to feed their families,” Gina Hijjawi, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said in the release. “Any reductions in SNAP funding will make it even harder for people and families to make ends meet, potentially increasing the number of households facing food insecurity.
“Because children and marginalized groups are most at risk to food insecurity, this would only exacerbate the already stark health disparities that exist along geographical, racial, and economic lines,” Hijjawi added.
