Millions of Americans are facing a reduction in their grocery budgets as emergency food assistance, enacted by Congress at the beginning of the pandemic, has come to an end. The average individual will receive around $90 less in benefits this month from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Some households will experience a cut of $250 or more per month, according to analysis by the nonpartisan research institute, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Dottie Rosenbaum, the director of federal SNAP policy for the institute, expressed concern over the increased hardship that many individuals and families will face due to these cuts. The regular SNAP benefits are already modest, averaging only about $6 per person per day. Approximately 40 million people in the U.S. rely on SNAP for assistance. While some states had already phased out pandemic assistance, the remaining 32 states, along with the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, issued their last emergency benefits in February.

The reduction in SNAP benefits comes at a time when food prices are continuing to rise, presenting a double whammy for individuals like Carlis Phares from Columbus, Ohio. Phares, who relies mainly on Social Security for income, states the cost-of-living adjustment in her Social Security payments has not kept pace with increasing rent and other expenses. The pandemic boost in SNAP allotments had helped her afford nutritious food while preserving her Social Security funds for other needs. With the reduction in benefits, Phares will have to make do with less.

In an effort to stretch her budget, Phares plans to cut back on meat and fresh produce and stock up on cheaper foods such as crackers, bread, and rice. However, she acknowledges that relying on cheaper, less healthy options contributed to weight gain in the past, and she is concerned about maintaining a healthy diet moving forward.

Rosenbaum highlights the annual cost-of-living increase and the re-evaluation of benefits in 2021 aimed at making nutritious foods more affordable will partially offset the cuts. Nevertheless, food insecurity remains a significant issue in the country. In 2020, nearly 9.5 million older adults and an estimated 9 million children experienced food insecurity. Advocates argue that strengthening the SNAP program is crucial, especially as diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes are on the rise.

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill prepare to re-authorize the farm bill, which includes a review of the SNAP program, advocates see an opportunity to enhance the program’s impact. Proposals include expanding missions like the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which provides additional funds to SNAP recipients for purchasing fruits and vegetables. Similar initiatives, such as the Double Up Food Bucks program, which doubles the value of SNAP benefits for produce at farmers markets, are also being considered. Strengthening standards for retailers to offer a wider variety of nutritious foods is another suggestion.

The farm bill, a comprehensive piece of legislation that governs agriculture subsidies and nutrition programs like SNAP, is set to expire at the end of September. Many stakeholders, including policymakers and health care organizations, are advocating for anti-hunger measures within the bill. Ideas like allowing SNAP benefits to be used at farmers markets and creating food pharmacies where SNAP benefits can be used to purchase healthy foods are gaining momentum.

In the meantime, the need for food assistance remains significant. Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the state’s largest food bank, observed an increase in demand for its services even before the emergency benefits ended. Carlis Phares anticipates that many people will turn to food banks due to reduced SNAP benefits, highlighting the ongoing struggle faced by individuals and families.