This week, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture will discuss its proposal to cut $230 billion over 10 years from the budget of the Department of Agriculture. The only way Congress can achieve these cuts is to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as food stamps, because it represents a large portion of the total USDA budget.
SNAP benefits help more than 42 million people nationwide put groceries on the table. At a time when we all see the price of groceries increasing, SNAP helps ensure an active and healthy citizenry. Eleven percent of South Carolina households participate in SNAP, and its need is more acute in rural areas, where about 20% of all households receive SNAP benefits. More than half of these households have children, and many seniors and individuals with disabilities rely on the food benefit. Despite common misrepresentations, 74% of households receiving SNAP benefits have at least one employed adult.
There are three proposed mechanisms to cut SNAP funding. The first is to cut the modernization of the Thrifty Food Plan, which is the cost of covering basic dietary needs that determines SNAP benefit levels. In 2021, it was updated for the first time in almost 50 years, resulting in a more realistic reflection of the current food landscape at $6 per person per day. If the plan is reverted to the pre-2021 level, benefits will immediately be reduced by $1.40 per person per day.
The second option is to impose more restrictive rules for receiving SNAP benefits. Currently, able-bodied, non-working adults under 55 years old, without dependents, may receive benefits for only three months. This option would increase the age bracket from 55 to 64, requiring older adults to work at least 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits. At a time when they should be getting ready to retire, we would require them to work even more just to put a healthy meal on the table.
The final option would be to shift the cost of SNAP benefits to states. Currently, the federal government covers all SNAP benefits, and half of the administrative costs. Each state administers its own program and pays the other half of administrative costs. This option would shift the cost of 22.5% of the benefits to the states for the first time in the food program's 61-year history.
This proposal would require an additional $326 million in South Carolina’s state budget per year. To carry this extra cost, we would need to raise our taxes, at a time when the Legislature is working toward cutting taxes, or cut vital programs such as education, health care, infrastructure and SNAP benefits. Either choice would give S.C. households a greater challenge to make ends meet.
Any of these three options would be detrimental to the 605,513 South Carolinians receiving assistance through SNAP.
South Carolina's economy also would suffer if SNAP is cut in any way. For every $1 of SNAP spent during an economic downturn, another $1.80 circulates in the local economy, from farmers to stores. SNAP brought $1.7 billion in sales to South Carolina in 2023 through 5,195 retailers across the state.
At a time of economic uncertainty, these proposed cuts would cause an economic hit to our state that South Carolinians cannot afford. This hit would be felt more strongly in counties with high SNAP participation. A recent study concluded that Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Dillon, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg retailers were at high risk of harm from SNAP cuts, which would negatively affect their businesses and maybe even force them to close. That would then affect food access for non-SNAP users in the county.
For a stronger, more economically robust South Carolina, we must call for a stop to the proposed cuts to SNAP benefits and especially stop the shift of costs to our state budget.
Omme-Salma Rahemtullah is the executive director of FoodShare South Carolina.