Another Way to Honor Our Veterans: Preserve Funding for SNAP

Almost 1.5 million veterans live in households that participate in SNAP (formerly food stamps), CBPP analysis of data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey finds.[1] In every state, thousands of low-income veterans use SNAP to help put food on the table; two states have more than 100,000 veterans participating: Florida (124,000) and Texas (103,000). In eight states, at least 10 percent of veterans live in households that received SNAP in the last year.  -Center for Budget and Policy Priorities

In New Mexico, 12,000 of the 147,000 people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during 2014-2016 were military veterans. That number represented 8 percent of all SNAP recipients in the state.

That rate of 8 percent matches figures for the U.S. as a whole. Nearly 1.5 million veterans qualified for SNAP in the two-year period out of a total of 18.9 million SNAP recipients, according to a study from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

"The 1.5 million figure, an annual average for the 2014-2016 period, represents veterans who received SNAP at any point during the previous year,: said the CBPP study.  "For low-income veterans, who may be unemployed, working in low-wage jobs, or have disabilities, SNAP provides an essential support that enables them to purchase nutritious food for their families."

In every state, thousands of low-income #veterans use #SNAP to put food on the table. @CenterOnBudget #veteransday https://t.co/iJLZOvOpxl

— MAZON (@MAZONusa) November 10, 2017

"Some veterans returning from service face challenges in finding work and making ends meet.  For example, young veterans who leave active duty may have little work experience beyond military service.  Searching for a new job can be especially difficult while they are in the military." 

Download a PDF copy of  the CBPP report

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP and other assistance benefits programs, created a special site with information for veterans. "You served our country proudly and honorably, and we want to inform you that through our nutrition programs, you may be eligible for assistance to ensure you, your family, and fellow veterans have the assistance to ensure you have nutritious meals," said the USDA site.

SNAP in Danger of Cutbacks
SNAP and other programs that benefit low-income individuals and families, including veterans, are vulnerable to  sharp reductions with the budget proposals."A joint budget resolution passed in Congress last month. Although just a blueprint, the legislation adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit. Legislators will need to find ways to raise money in spending bills and through tax reform, increasing the likelihood of cuts to vital anti-hunger programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, and lifesaving foreign aid," said Bread for the World.

"Nationwide, SNAP is a powerful anti-hunger and anti-poverty tool:  it kept 8.8 million people above the poverty line in 2014, including 4 million children," said the CBPP.