Experts explain impact of expiring SNAP benefits, share resources to help
This week, states received notification from USDA Food and Nutrition Services that, during the federal government shutdown, there will be insufficient funding to issue November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to recipients. While Virginia is implementing a new State Emergency Food Assistance Program to help bridge the gap, it is unclear how far past November that will last.
Virginia Tech experts Elena Serrano, director of the Virginia Family Nutrition Program, and George Davis, interim head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, are co-authors of the book “Food and Nutrition Economics” and can explain how SNAP benefits work, how people will be affected by them expiring, and actions those impacted can take.
SNAP provides cash benefits, in the form of a EBT card, to 42 million Americans from eligible, low-income families, including more than 850,000 Virginians, to purchase fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads and cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat. They cannot be used to buy prepared meals.
“SNAP benefits are designed to help individuals reach a minimum nutritional expenditure target. Individuals are expected to use some of their own personal funds (income) to reach this target in addition to the SNAP benefits, hence the name ‘supplemental,’” says Davis. Research he’s contributed to has shown such funding increases the number of people meeting that minimum nutritional target by 25% or more.
A recent survey of 2,463 active SNAP recipients from Oct. 20-21 found that 40% said they visit a food pantry or community organization, and 31% said they skip meals.
“SNAP is one of the most powerful tools to reduce food insecurity,” says Serrano. “Without SNAP, many families, including children and the elderly, will simply go without food or with very little food.”
The disruption of SNAP benefits will also have a downstream impact on food retailers, who process millions of EBT transactions each month. “Small and mid-sized grocers that operate on tight profit margins may struggle,” says Serrano. “Retailers are the backbone of SNAP’s delivery system, processing millions of EBT transactions each month.” Every $1 in SNAP generates $1.50-$1.80 in local economic activity.
About Serrano
Elena Serrano is the Director of the Virginia Family Nutrition Program and a professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. She focuses on examining the effectiveness of food and nutrition programs and initiatives to promote food and nutrition security, particularly within Virginia.
About Davis
George Davis holds an appointment in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. His research generally focuses on food demand, health outcomes, econometrics, and methodology. While he works on a variety of issues related to food and nutrition, his primary focus is on understanding how nutrition policies and time allocation interact to influence nutrient intake and diet quality.
Schedule an interview
To schedule an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn at mkashburn@vt.edu | 540-529-0814, or Noah Frank at nafrank@vt.edu | 805-453-2556.
