Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end

Additional benefits during the pandemic helped SNAP recipients reduce hunger and buy more expensive, healthy food.

Millions of Americans will have less to spend on groceries as emergency food assistance that Congress enacted early in the pandemic has ended.

On average, individuals will get about $90 less this month in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. Some households will see a cut of $250 a month or more, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan research institute.

“This is a change that will increase hardship for many individuals and families, especially given the modest amount of regular SNAP benefits, which are only about $6 per person per day, on average,” says Dottie Rosenbaum, director of federal SNAP policy for the institute.