Be careful if you receive SNAP because the USDA wants every person who receives it to apply for the benefit again from scratch, absolutely every person. The reason, according to the government, is that they have detected irregularities within the system, so it will be almost 41 million beneficiaries who will have to apply for SNAP again.
When the announcement came out, the social and political debate exploded, and no wonder, we are talking about 41 million families (at minimum) who depend on these food checks, and yes, maybe the program needs a change, more security… but it is quite risky for the families who depend on this support… And the whole country is watching how this whole story is developing.
41 million beneficiaries affected.
Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture, explained that the measure comes after reviewing data from 29 states. According to her, they found 186,000 beneficiaries registered as deceased and around 500,000 duplicate cases… Could it be true? Because those figures have not yet been verified by any independent source, but they have been enough for the administration to want a complete review of the largest food assistance program in the country. And SNAP has never faced anything like this.
The “fraud”
Rollins (under the government’s name, of course) wants to tighten the oversight of the program and the data that has come out of the Republican states is only (according to her) “the tip of the iceberg”, insinuating that there is still no data from the states governed by the Democratic party.
But, let’s be honest, we have already heard this speech several times just this year, or does no one remember what the DOGE was created for? They talk about massive fraud to question social programs, which yes, being frank, “they think are unnecessary” because they believe not everyone needs them (tell that to a mother or father who cannot make it to the end of the month, tell them!)
What does this mean for those who depend on SNAP?
This is where the real uncertainty begins because the USDA has not yet explained how recertification will be done, it is not known if it will be a centralized process, if each state will have its own way of managing it, a complete disaster very in line with the Trump brand.
And it is normal that there is panic in the air because if the requirement is demanded at the same time for millions of families, the state systems could literally collapse and millions of families could be left without the benefit until it is resolved or its resolution is verified, completely unfair.
What could happen
Many households are dealing first with the federal shutdown, and then with inflation that does not stop rising, if there were another interruption in these benefits, even for a few weeks, the effect would widen even more the gap between those who have and those who do not. Families with fewer resources would be the first to notice it and consumption in local businesses would also drop immediately.
On the other hand, in rural areas where SNAP is vital for absolutely everything is where the impact would be felt the most, and it seems they only think in numbers when behind each number there is a family living a reality completely different from ours…
A structural change
As we told you, if this takes place, it will be the largest review of the program since its creation, and it could open the door to stricter requirements or even a complete redefinition of the program, but perhaps the government wants to go a little further and not only change something within the program, they likely want to reduce the number of beneficiaries or look for excuses to save funds.
SNAP is vital in this country, where it is estimated that 10.6% of the population lives below the poverty line. We are not going to deny that there are people who use the program in bad faith, but the reality is that the “social spending” should stop being called “spending”. Guaranteeing proper nutrition for all citizens should be the priority of all governments, regardless of the party.