Access, Policy

How Will New Work Requirements for SNAP Benefits Affect Food Insecurity, Employment?

By Nhatt Nichols, The Daily Yonder on January 29, 2024

Jan 29, 2024

Graphic Journalist Nhatt Nichols takes us to West Virginia to explore the outlook for people facing food insecurity and the communities they call home.

Art by Nhatt Nichols/The Daily Yonder.

As policymakers in DC have continued to negotiate compromises to fund the federal government—and craft a new Farm Bill—there has been no shortage of political wrangling over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often referred to as “food stamps.” For example, in mid 2023 an agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling included a provision to tighten eligibility requirements for some SNAP users. This change took effect at the same time that a temporary expansion of SNAP benefits, introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, also came to end.

Graphic Journalist Nhatt Nichols takes us to West Virginia, where comparable changes to the SNAP program were made back in 2018, to explore the outlook for people facing food insecurity and the communities they call home.

Comic panel showing a floor of congress with text that reads: On June 1, 2023, Congress passed a bill to raise the federal deb ceiling and prevent the US government from defaulting on its financial obligations.

Comic panel shows a woman in a kitchen with text that reads: The agreement also changed how the food stamp program, better known as SNAP, works for thousands of people between the ages of 50 and 54 who rely on those benefits to eat.

Comic panel shows a man at a bus stop with text that reads: Those people now need to report working at least 20 hours a week to continue receiving benefits.

Comic panel shows a woman paying for groceries with text that reads: There are already work requirements for 18 to 49-year-old, Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) that apply for food benefits in many states. In West Virginia, for example, they have existed since 2018.

Comic panel shows a community center building with text that reads: These SNAP changes went into effect this fall as temporary pandemic-era SNAP programs ended, burdening food banks and other emergency food providers.

Comic panel shows two stacks of food compared to one another: According to the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), “some older adults have experienced the steepest cliff, with their monthly SNAP benefits falling from as high as $281 down to $23.”

Comic panel shows a full bag of groceries with text that reads: According to the Center for Budget and Policy, prior to pandemic-era benefit increases, households eligible for SNAP benefits received an average of $240 per month in 2019 and 2020.

Comic panel shows a cup of ramen with text that reads: Individuals received an average of $121 each month, which is about $30 per week or $4 per day.

Comic panel shows a help wanted sign in a window with text that reads: In West Virginia, a state with one of the oldest populations in the country, 7,000 people between the ages of 50 and 54 will lose their benefits if they aren’t able to find work or prove that they are looking for work and fulfill reporting requirements.

Comic panel shows portrait of Seth DiSteffano of the West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy with quote that reads: “The poor can't keep up with the paperwork; that's how they get kicked off benefits.

Comic panel shows Seth DiSteffano with quote that reads:

Comic panel shows hands kneading dough with text that reads: Reporting requirements not only make attaining and keeping benefits more difficult, they also don’t lead to more people being employed.

Comic panel shows map of West Virginia with various counties higlighted and text that reads: In WV, a 2016 pilot program implemented work reporting for childless 18 to 49-year-olds in the nine counties with the lowest unemployment statewide.

Comic panel shows chart comparing employment growth with text that reads: After two years, there was no apparent correlation between SNAP requiring people to work and unemployment levels going down. Average monthly employment growth after work requirements enacted in pilot counties was 0.04% compared to 0.09% statewide.

Comic panel shows a person reading the classified ads with text that reads: The results, presented by DHHR to the House Committee on Health and Human Resources, aligned with findings from other studies around the country.

Comic panel shows a speech bubble with a quote from the report that reads: “Our best data does not indicate that the program has had a significant impact on employment figures for the (ABAWD) population in the nine counties [that were part of the study] ... Health and Human Resources made approximately 13,984 referrals to SNAP in 2016, and of those only 259 gained employment.”

Comic panel shows someone planting a plant with text that reads: The West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy found that, before the pilot program, the nine counties had identical employment growth relative to the rest of the state.

Comic panel shows seedlings in soil with text that reads: However, in the years post-implementation, West Virginia’s overall employment growth outpaced that of the nine counties by a ratio of two to one.

Comic panel shows a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with text that reads: The new changes for 50 to 54 year-olds add growing concern about additional food insecurity for vulnerable people in West Virginia and across the U.S.

Comic panel shows someone serving food to another with text that reads: Where are people getting food if they no longer qualify for SNAP? Often, they rely on places like food banks and free meal centers, which are already reporting record numbers of people using their services.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart from Facing Hunger, a nonprofit that provides food to food banks in West Virginia, with quote that reads: “The increase of (people) that we're seeing is about 25%. We had the pandemic, and we started to see a remarkable lift of families and children out of poverty from additional benefits like the Child Tax Credit.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart with with quote that reads:

Comic panel shows a pile of oranges with text that reads: Food banks are purchasing food to address this increase, but at the same time people are losing benefits, food banks across the country are also seeing a notable reduction in government funding for food resources.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart with qoute that reads:

Comic panel shows grocery store entrance with text that reads: This particularly affects people in rural areas who may already have limited access to grocery stores and fresh produce.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart with quote that reads:

Comic shows grocery store worker stocking shelves with quote from DiSteffano that reads:

Comic panel shows someone signing up for EBT at a counter with text that reads: The situation isn’t completely hopeless, however. One possible way to support food-insecure people with the reporting requirements would be to do what Kentucky does and offer SNAP reporting assistance in food banks in rural areas.

Comic panel shows the US Capitol building with text that reads: The currently delayed Farm Bill could provide the strongest solution by removing the work reporting requirements for people who need food assistance.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart with text that reads: Senators in West Virginia seem to understand what’s at stake for their constituents.

Comic panel shows Cynthia Kirkhart with quote that reads: “This year is the first year that Congresswoman [Carol] Miller's office and Senator [Joe] Manchin's office reached out to me with immediacy about our thoughts about the Farm Bill. Usually, we're the ones knocking on the doors first, you know, emailing and calling. And they were very responsive, to be the first one to do that outreach.”

This article first appeared on The Daily Yonder and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Sally

1 month ago

Thank you for this informative communication. About ten years ago, I commuted to a rural county from my home about 50 minutes away. I worked as a communiity mental health counseleor. More recently I worked in a rural county closer to my home with substance use clients in rehab, mostl women, some with children. The problems noted here were not different with regard to the lack of community and personal resources for independent living in many rural areas. From that point of view, I’d like to add that rural areas lack employment opportunities from the git-go. It’s one reason for… Read more »