Americans who are part of the national food stamp program will be hit by cuts starting today, as extra funding from the federal stimulus package dries out.
Around 47.7 million citizens on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will experience a 5 percent reduction in overall financial aid, beginning Nov. 1. According to non-profit news service Stateline, that translates to $36 less each month for a family of four. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that a home of eight people would receive $65 less each month.
Reductions vary slightly by state. Georgia will experience a $210 million cut, according to a report published by left-leaning think tank the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Illinois will get a $220 million cut, while Ohio's funds will be slashed by $193 million. States with a higher food stamp dependency will feel the worst cuts - especially in the 12 states where one in five citizens is on the SNAP program. At least 1 million New York residents, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, will be hit hard. According to the center's analysis, around 2.3 million California and Texas kids will be affected as well. California should see a $457 million drop in spending over the next year, the Washington Post Reported. Texas is slated to lose about $411 million.
Many low-income families currently on food stamps are already scrambling to pay the bills, Illinois Department of Human Services spokesperson Januari Smith told the Tribune.
"It seems like a small decrease, but it will have an impact on those who depend on it," Smith said. "People will have to make tough decisions, including choosing between necessary medicines and putting food on the table."
The cuts are part of a $5 billion dollar slash in national funds for food stamps, making this the first reduction that's been applied across the board in the history of the federal program, the Chicago Tribune reported. The boost in food stamp dollars was first applied in 2009, when the federal government poured an extra $45.2 billion into the SNAP program to help with a recession-fueled spike in demand.
