Amid an economic landscape marked by inflation, a recent report has set off alarms across the United States. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that millions of people will lose access to food stamps from the SNAP program. This measure especially affects families with children and people with low incomes who rely on this monthly support to cover basic needs.
The situation doesn't come at just any time. Food prices keep rising, while food banks are working at their limit to meet growing demand. For many, this change in regulations represents a new challenge in an already complicated scenario.
A legal change with major impact
The root of this projection lies in a law promoted during Donald Trump's administration. This regulation expands work requirements for certain beneficiaries, introducing conditions that didn't exist before. Among those affected are parents, older adults, and other groups who, until now, could receive the benefit without meeting these obligations.
The change establishes that parents with children over 14 years old must meet at least one of three requirements to keep the benefit. Among them are working a minimum of 80 hours per month (80 h), performing volunteer work, or participating in training programs. These new conditions transform the nature of the program, shifting it from purely economic support to a system conditioned by work or training activity.
The CBO estimates that about 2.4 million people will stop receiving the benefit each month. The figure reflects not only a statistical change but also the real impact it can have on the lives of millions of households. In communities with few job opportunities or limited training programs, meeting the new rules could prove nearly impossible.
What the SNAP program is and why it matters
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, is a pillar of the food security system in the United States. Through this program, the government deposits an amount of money each month onto an EBT card, which is similar to a debit card, for the purchase of specific foods. Beneficiaries can use them in supermarkets, authorized stores, and even some farmers markets.
This system has been key for millions of people who depend on it to ensure an adequate diet. It's not just about providing food, but about making sure families have access to nutritious options amid economic hardship. Its elimination or restriction, therefore, not only affects the family budget but also long-term public health.
The tightening of requirements comes at a time when every dollar counts. For those who can't meet the new demands, the risk isn't just losing a major benefit, but seeing the food security of the entire family compromised. This change marks a turning point in the country's social policy and in the way public assistance is conceived.