More than 500,000 Could Lose SNAP Benefits

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According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities more than half a million people could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 2016 due to the return of a three -month limit of benefits for unemployed adults age 18-49 who aren’t disabled or raising minor children in many areas. The impact will be felt in 22 states that are reimposing the limits this year.

Latinos are disproportionately affected by poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment. They are also more likely to receive emergency food assistance. More than 22% of Latino households are food insecure as compared to 11% White, non-Latino households. Over 25% of Latino children live in food-insecure households.

Work requirements in public assistance programs typically require recipients to look for work or accept any job or employment opportunity; however, most do not revoke benefits for those who have not found employment. Due to the “Great Recession,” most states abandoned the three-month limit. Many states qualified to waive the limit due to high unemployment rates and most states currently have counties that can still waive them due to these high rates.

In 2013, nearly 8 million Latinos participated in SNAP and comprised 16% of all SNAP benefits. Since 2007, the number has largely been between 16% and 17%. Nearly 30% of all Latino children currently live in food-insecure households. The 89 counties in 2013 with majority Latino households make up 3% of all counties in the U.S.; 27% of these are counties with the highest rates of childhood food insecurity.

The report determined that, in 2016, more than 40 states will institute the time/benefit limits; 22 of these states will implement the limits for the first time since the recession. Of these states, 19 must reimpose the time limit in at least a portion of the state. Of the top 10 counties in the nation that have the highest food-insecurity rates for children, three have a population that is majority Latino.

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