Food Stamps Officially in Debt Ceiling Crosshairs: Work Requirements and More Cuts On the Table
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Cory Dudak
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
As House Republicans seek to reduce, and ultimately eliminate the federal deficit over the next ten years, some lawmakers are looking to make more changes to federally funded food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The program currently helps 41 million Americans (including families with children) put food on the table, providing lower income households with an average of more than $230 in money for groceries each month.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has already said Republicans won’t push to cut Medicare or Social Security, but according to an opinion piece from The Hill, Republican’s goal to put the government “on a path to a balanced budget” could put SNAP benefits on the chopping block.
SNAP benefits will cost the federal government $153.9 billion in 2023, more than double the cost of the program prior to the pandemic. As COVID-era SNAP benefits expire in March, SNAP beneficiaries could see their grocery budgets slashed by as much as $258 per month.
Meanwhile, food prices remain elevated, as the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed a 0.5% increase in food prices in January. Staples like meats, poultry and fish rose 0.7%, while the price of eggs rose 8.5% over the month, GOBankingRates recently reported.
Some Republicans in Washington are pushing to institute standardized work requirements for SNAP benefits across all states. Currently, there are some requirements, but they vary by state and waivers are often granted.
“We need to go back to the Clinton-era welfare-to-work reforms,” Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Tex.), the leader of the House Budget Committee, said in an interview with the Washington Post.
The federal government is under a deadline of October 1, 2023, to reach an agreement on SNAP benefits and eligibility requirements. The “Farm Bill,” which authorizes agricultural subsidies and nutrition programs, expires at the end of September. New legislation — or an extension — must be in place by October 1, or, “millions of farmers and families alike could experience significant economic disruptions this fall,” the Washington Post explained.
More From GOBankingRates
