Over 1.5 million Georgians benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That’s nearly 15 percent of people living in our state! Recent cuts to this federal program will put the most vulnerable Georgians at risk and shift the cost of assistance to our state government.
The biggest change is to ‘work requirements’ via the elimination of these key exemptions:
- Before, it only applied to adults 18 to 54. Now it is 18-65.
- Before, parents who were responsible for a dependent under the age of 18. Now, it is under the age of 14.
- Before, veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults transitioning. Now, all these groups need to meet the work requirements.
Nov 2025 Update: the end of the government shutdown means that millions of Georgians will finally get their SNAP benefits hopefully soon. However, this is the month that the One Big Beautiful Bill enacts the above changes. Starting with the 2028 fiscal year, states with an error rate of higher than 6% will start losing federal funding for the program. As of Nov. 1, as the implementation grace period ends, every mistake will be counted.
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) officially dates back to 1979, when it was known as ‘Food Stamps’, but was renamed in 2008. SNAP provides supplementary food assistance in the form of a monthly stipend card that can be used just like a debit card at grocery stores and online retailers. Additionally, many co-ops and farmers markets accept SNAP, providing people access to locally sourced, and fresh, food that may otherwise be difficult to come by. About 1 in 8 people in the United States participate in SNAP, and it is the largest food assistance program in the United States. SNAP primarily strives to benefit those that are struggling with food insecurity.
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity means that an individual is unable to provide enough food for themselves and their families. Families living with food insecurity often have to choose between paying bills or buying food. Hunger and related stress make it difficult to perform well in school or at a job. Food insecurity is linked with numerous health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and depression. The cost of managing these conditions places additional stress on families. Living with food insecurity impacts many aspects of everyday life, which makes it a complex problem to solve. SNAP is the primary way in which the government is able to provide assistance to those suffering from food insecurity. In recent years, initiatives such as Wholesome Wave Georgia’s ‘Fresh for Less’ program have begun matching SNAP purchases at participating vendors, providing supplementary assistance for those in need, enabling the purchase of fresh food, and supporting local farmers and grocers. A win-win-win.
Who will be affected by SNAP cuts?
The biggest change to SNAP is that the eligibility requirements have tightened, meaning that fewer people will qualify. For example, a work quota has been implemented for all adults younger than 65. These individuals are required to work at least 80-hours-a-month to gain access to food assistance. Exemptions to the work quota, specifically parents of young children, veterans, the unhoused, refugees, and youth in foster care have been made much harder to obtain. Studies have shown that work requirements do not substantially increase someone’s likelihood of gaining employment, but rather disproportionately affect those who would benefit from food assistance but are unable to work. Ultimately, Georgia’s most vulnerable populations will be at risk by these changes to a program that strives only to help people. SNAP has been shown in studies to be very effective, reducing the likelihood of food insecurity by as much as 31%.
While individuals and families that currently benefit from SNAP will be affected most by these changes, our state as a whole may suffer. It is estimated that SNAP benefits helped to generate more than $343 million in grocery wages in 2023 and that these benefits were spent in more than 10,000 retailers across our state. Previously, the federal government covered 100% of the cost of SNAP benefits. Going forward, states that choose to participate in SNAP will be required to contribute to a portion of SNAP costs. Many states are not prepared for this additional expenditure, leading to speculation that SNAP benefits could be cut or removed altogether if states are unwilling to cover the cost. In this event, people that actually qualify for SNAP may just not receive the money. This would be a disaster for many families living in Georgia and a major blow to our economy.