What to do if your SNAP Food Stamps are reduced or stopped: Ways to find help and afford groceries with less EBT assistance.
When your SNAP food stamps have been cut, which can happen as states or the federal government reduce their funding or when eligibility requirements change, there is assistance available. As many households are now facing the harsh reality of reduced SNAP benefits or complete removal from the program. If your SNAP food stamp (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits have been reduced or terminated, you are not alone - but there are resources and strategies available (listed below) to help you get through this difficult time.
Below we will show people how to survive the impact to their monthly budget when benefits have been reduced. With 40 to 45 million Americans currently enrolled into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food stamp program (or their state’s equivalent), many people obviously rely on the government to help feed their families. Any cut to their benefits, no matter how small, will often have a major impact.
Why may SNAP food stamps be reduced or stopped?
The main reason this occurs is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (federal government) is often reducing funding to the states. Since state's in effect operate SNAP food stamps (or their own version of it) the states now have less federal government money to spend. Therefore benefits are often being cut or eligibility guidelines as listed here on the USDA site are being changed.
Note each state may have their own terms and conditions they implement. In general, the cutbacks occurring will often be for Americans age 18 to 49 that are able bodied and can work. The disabled, seniors, pregnant women, and households with young kids under the age of 18 may be exempt from a reduction in their food stamp payments. People in job training programs or that are mentally ill may also not be impacted. However all this can vary by state and the latest, even changing rules.
However, if you believe the reduction or cancellation was in error, you have the right to file an appeal or request a fair hearing. Contact your local SNAP office (social or human services) immediately to begin that process. There are also free legal aid lawyers in most states that can help. In many cases, benefits can be restored if missing documents are submitted or mistakes are corrected.
Steps to take when SNAP food stamps are cut or stopped
For people who are impacted by a lower food stamp payment being placed on an EBT card (or total stoppage), some things to do are the following.
Be sure to look into charity food programs and non-profits in your town or city. Many give out free groceries to the low income. Nonprofit food pantries and local food banks can help fill the gap. Organizations like Feeding America, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, United Way, and local churches operate free grocery distribution centers across the country. Many offer fresh produce, frozen meat, canned goods, baby formula, and even hygiene items.
- Some mobile food pantries or Meals on Wheels services even deliver groceries directly to people with disabilities, seniors, or those without transportation. For people who stop by a pantry, or more than one, say just 3 times per month that alone may allow them to get anywhere from $50 to $100 per month in free groceries for their family. With many people receiving a few hundred dollars per month from SNAP, a pantry can more than offset that reduction. Find a listing of food banks and pantries by state.
Shop smarter and budget more effectively. Families that use coupons (many of which can be printed off the internet for free or used on app), that review store flyers and sales, sign up for discount cards, and buy store name brands, it is possible to reduce a grocery bill from 10 to 20%. That is easy to do. As there are ways to stretch every dollar when paying for groceries.
- Use Ibotta, Fetch for free gift cards, or Rakuten to earn cashback on grocery purchases (some accept EBT-paid items).
- Clip coupons from local circulars, use an app with grocery deals, or use online sources like Coupons.com.
- Visit dollar stores, discount grocers (like Aldi or Grocery Outlet), and community co-ops.
- Ask about “Double Up Food Bucks” or EBT matching programs in your area. As even some farmers markets and local stores will match your SNAP dollars for fresh produce.
Many people use this tactic to save as much as 50% per month on their grocery bills. That is a large amount of money, and shopping smarter is an easy step to take in how to offset any reduction in SNAP food stamp reductions.
Look into an affordable subscription program, food box service, or cheap grocery assistance programs. In addition to “Shopping smarter” to save money, there are many places that offer healthy cheap groceries as well. If your household is faced with cutbacks, the family can still eat healthy on a limited budget.
- Even if you have had a reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance / SNAP benefit payments or maybe the government has sopped making payments, you can still buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and more. There are food delivery services for low income families that sell inexpensive groceries or local and national programs for affordable fodo boxes. It is possible to shop smarter, find cheaper yet quality food, and more effectively and to also cook healthier meals. Find sources of cheap groceries.
Check eligibility for other government benefits, whether for food or just funds to pay bills (which can free up money for groceries). As losing or reducing SNAP may open the door to other public assistance programs. Be sure to check if you qualify for:
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program) if you are pregnant or have young children. As this can help pay for baby formula with details on the WIC government benefit here.
- School Meal Programs for kids, including free breakfasts, lunches, and summer feeding programs for kids.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (or your state’s version) can provide money from the government which can help pay for food, or look here for details on TANF cash benefits in your state.
- Medicaid or CHIP, as eligibility often overlaps with food assistance. This means if qualified for government insurance, other government food assistance may be combined with it in that state.
Speak to a benefits counselor, social worker or advocate in your state. If you feel overwhelmed or don’t know where to start even after reviewing this site and all these programs, connect with a benefits counselor, social worker, or a nonprofit. As there are many local and national ones that help low-income families navigate assistance programs. Many Legal Aid offices, Area Agencies on Aging, or disability advocacy groups offer this service for free and use our search function to look for local resources. They can help you reapply for SNAP, file appeals, or discover other overlooked forms of aid, including utility discounts, housing support, and free medical care.
While losing or seeing a reduction in SNAP benefits can be distressing, you are not alone and there are multiple resources available to help keep food on the table. Stay proactive, ask for help, and don’t hesitate to explore every option. In addition, while you may agree or not with the USDA policies on cutting back the EBT card assistance to families living near or at poverty levels, the fact is that government benefits such as food stamps may continue to be reduced as time goes on due to constant government cutbacks.
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