Did SNAP Benefits Increase Almost 40% Under Biden?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), America’s largest anti-hunger initiative, underwent its biggest benefit overhaul in decades under the Biden administration. Claims of a near-40% increase have sparked debate—but what’s the full story? Here’s a fact-check with key context.
SNAP Benefits Before the Biden Era
SNAP benefits are tied to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), a USDA model last updated in 2006. Pre-pandemic averages (2019) were:
– $121/month per person
– $680/month for a family of four
During COVID-19, temporary measures under Trump boosted benefits by 15%, raising averages to $140/person—but these were emergency fixes, not permanent changes.
The 2021 Biden Policy Shift
In August 2021, the USDA revised the TFP to reflect modern food costs and nutrition science, triggering the first permanent increase in 15 years. By October 2021:
– Average benefits jumped 39.6% from pre-pandemic levels ($121 → $169/person).
– Maximum family-of-four benefits rose 23% ($680 → $835/month).
Why such a large hike? The outdated TFP had underestimated meal costs by 20–30%, per USDA research. The update aimed to close this gap.
Was It Really a 40% Increase? Key Nuances
- Baseline Matters: The 40% compares to 2019 levels, not the temporary COVID boosts.
- Emergency Allotments Ended: Many households saw a net decrease in 2023 when pandemic-era extras expired, despite the TFP bump.
- Inflation Eroded Gains: Food prices rose 25% since 2020 (BLS data), so higher benefits mostly offset costs.
Political Backlash and Support
- Critics (mostly GOP) argue the expansion strains budgets and reduces work incentives.
- Supporters highlight reduced child hunger and better alignment with living costs.
What’s Next for SNAP?
Future changes hinge on:
– Annual cost-of-living adjustments.
– Congressional battles (e.g., proposed work requirements).
– Food inflation trends.
The Bottom Line
✔ True: Benefits rose ~40% from pre-COVID levels due to Biden’s TFP update.
⚠ But: This corrected a long-standing shortfall, and inflation diluted actual purchasing power gains.
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