Tracking Federal SNAP Policy: Potential Impacts on Food Access for Kansans

The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) is closely monitoring federal health policy developments to assess their potential impact on Kansans. Through ongoing analysis and tracking of legislative and administrative proposals, KHI is committed to providing insights into how potential changes at the federal level could affect key issues related to food security and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides monthly benefits to low-income individuals and families, which can be used to purchase groceries from authorized retailers. The program aims to reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition and support better health outcomes.

Federal policy decisions play a crucial role in shaping SNAP funding, eligibility and benefits, making it essential to understand how proposed changes might impact Kansans. The policy options discussed in this blog are under consideration and may not be implemented by Congress. However, they provide insights into potential changes that may have significant implications for state budgets, SNAP participants and the overall food system in Kansas.

Quick Facts

SNAP Utilization and Participation, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

• 41 million people in the U.S. participated in SNAP.
• 188,710 Kansans participated in SNAP.
• Kansas households received a total of $428.5 million in SNAP benefits.
• The average monthly snap benefit for each household member, per month, was $189.

SNAP Usage Patterns and Economic Impact, FY 2023

• $63 million of SNAP benefits were redeemed by Kansas households at internet retailers.
• Nearly one-third (31.5 percent) of SNAP households purchased food online.
• Kansas is ranked top three nationally for the percentage of SNAP households purchasing online.
• 2,128 retailers in Kansas currently accept SNAP benefits. Cuts to SNAP may slow economic activity.

One in five Kansas children experienced food insecurity in 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several financial assistance programs were temporarily expanded to support families. However, many of these expansions ended in 2022, just as food costs began to rise significantly (a 12 percent increase), between December 2021 and December 2022. The expiration of key assistance programs, including the expanded Child Tax Credit (ended December 2021) and the SNAP emergency allotments (ended February 2023), led to increased hardship.

House Passes Budget: Implications for SNAP and the Budget Reconciliation Process

Both chambers of Congress have now adopted the concurrent budget resolution, which could significantly impact public assistance programs in Kansas, and particularly low-income residents who rely on SNAP and other programs, such as Medicaid. Passage of the resolution means lawmakers have taken a key step in the federal budget reconciliation process, a legislative tool that allows for expedited consideration of certain budgetary legislation. This process enables Congress to align spending with the agreed-upon targets using a simple majority vote, bypassing the threat of a Senate filibuster.

For a full recap and detailed description of the budget reconciliation process, refer to a previous issue of Hill to Heartland: Potential Impacts of Federal Policy Decisions on Medicaid and CHIP in Kansas.

The budget resolution establishes a framework for funding reductions over the next decade. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions to the House Agriculture Committee — tasked with overseeing SNAP and other programs — to identify $230 billion in savings over the next 10 years.

A menu of budget options that was circulating on Capitol Hill, and that was published by media outlets in January, included proposed changes to SNAP. SNAP constitutes a substantial portion of the mandatory spending programs overseen by the House Agriculture Committee. In order for the Committee to reach its assigned spending cut target, the program likely would be significantly impacted.

The specific funding changes to SNAP that might be proposed by the Agriculture Committee to fulfill the instruction to identify $230 billion in savings over 10 years are still unknown; however, House lawmakers cannot cut SNAP without reducing benefits, restricting eligibility, or some combination of both. These options include: 1) rescinding the 2021 update to the Thrifty Food Plan, 2) capping household benefits, 3) expanding work requirements, and 4) ending eligibility streamlining processes.

Rescinding the 2021 Update to the Thrifty Food Plan

The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), created in 1975, aims to represent the weekly cost of purchasing food necessary to maintain a healthy diet. The TFP provides guidelines for SNAP benefit amounts by aligning them with basic nutritional guidelines, food consumption data and the actual cost of food items at retailers.

In 2021, the TFP underwent an update that adjusted the real purchasing power of SNAP benefits for the first time in nearly 60 years, reflecting current dietary guidance, food prices, consumption patterns and shopping habits. SNAP maximum allotments were increased to reflect this updated evaluation, providing households with greater resources and more options to maintain a nutritious diet.

Currently, one federal proposal under consideration seeks to roll back this 2021 TFP update in its entirety, arguing that the change was made without congressional approval. This proposed rollback could account for all or most of the $230 billion instruction to the Agriculture Committee. According to an analysis by the Urban Institute, rolling back the 2021 TFP would mean that a modestly priced meal would cost 59 percent more than the maximum SNAP benefit in Kansas. An alternate proposal would limit changes in the cost to the rate of inflation, which policymakers estimated would reduce spending by $36 billion over 10 years.

Cap SNAP Maximum Household Benefit

SNAP benefit amounts are tied to the cost of USDA’s TFP and determined by household size. Currently, the average monthly SNAP benefit increases for each additional household member. One policy option circulated in January would cap the maximum household SNAP benefit equal to a family of six. For example, a family of eight could only receive the maximum monthly amount for a family of six. In Kansas, a family of six can receive a maximum monthly SNAP benefit of $1,390 in FY 2025. This results in a monthly shortfall of $366 compared to the $1,756 maximum benefit a family of eight is eligible to receive, placing added strain on larger households.

Work Requirements

Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) between the ages of 18 and 49 must meet certain work requirements to remain eligible for SNAP. The 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) temporarily expanded the age range subject to these requirements by gradually raising the upper limit to 54 years old in October 2024, with this expansion set to sunset in October 2030. It also introduced exemptions for specific groups, such as veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness and former foster youth. The new policy seeks to permanently raise the age limit to 56, extending the work requirements to ABAWDs up to this age without a sunset clause.

End Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility

The 2015 Kansas HOPE Act prohibited Kansas from using broad-based categorical eligibility; however, this is a strategy currently available and utilized by many states. Broad-based categorical eligibility lets states simplify enrollment for people already receiving other benefits. For example, if someone is receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, they have already documented they met many of the same eligibility requirements for SNAP and would be deemed eligible for both programs. States using broad-based categorical eligibility can save these households time and reduce administrative burden.

Potential Impacts to Kansas

Understanding the effects of proposed federal changes to SNAP, including cuts to benefits and program eligibility, is essential. Changes could make it more difficult for Kansans to afford food to feed their families, and families could be forced to make tradeoffs between paying for food, housing and health care costs. Access to household economic resources such as SNAP has been found to reduce medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes later in life and increase financial security for women, including increased educational attainment and income and decreased use of safety net programs later in life. Cuts to SNAP also would affect businesses. SNAP benefits generate economic activity beyond the benefit’s value.

According to an analysis by the Commonwealth Fund and George Washington University, proposed broad-based cuts to SNAP, amounting to $230 billion over ten years as outlined in the House Budget Resolution, would have economic repercussions for Kansas in 2026. Federal SNAP funding to Kansas would decrease by $96.4 million and the funding loss would trigger a broader statewide economic impact of $122.3 million in lost economic output from food sales and other connected industries. To cope with reduced funding, Kansas may need to tighten eligibility rules and lower benefit amounts. As a result, families may be forced to make difficult choices, such as skipping meals to feed their children, relying more heavily on food pantries or purchasing cheaper, less nutritious food.

Conclusion

As federal SNAP policy debates continue, Kansas must prepare for potential shifts that could impact food access for thousands of residents. The budget reconciliation process could bring significant changes to SNAP, including reductions in benefits, stricter eligibility requirements or increased financial responsibility for states. If some or all of these policy changes are enacted, state leaders may need to explore alternative strategies to mitigate the effects on household food security and economic stability. Understanding these proposed changes and their potential consequences is critical for policymakers, service providers and Kansas families who rely on SNAP.

Stay tuned for updates and continued analysis from KHI as the federal budget process unfolds.

Funding for Hill to the Heartland is provided in part by the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans, a Topeka-based philanthropic organization with the mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans. KHI retains editorial independence in the production of its content and its findings. Any views expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sunflower Foundation.