The USDA says monthly SNAP participation has dropped below 40 million people, continuing a long decline in enrollment. The anti-hunger group Food Research and Action Center said enrollment of 39.6 million people in April, the latest month available in USDA data, was the lowest since February 2010.
“Drops in participation largely reflect improvement in the unemployment rate as well as loss of eligibility for some unemployed and underemployed adults,” said FRAC. SNAP enrollment peaked at 46.6 million people in fiscal 2013, an increase of more than 20 million people since recession struck in 2008. The program cost a record $80 billion in 2013, fueling a drive by Republicans in Congress to curtail eligibility and benefits in the 2014 farm bill.
House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway said voters support the idea for requiring people to work if they receive help from the government, so he is trying to toughen work requirements for SNAP as part of the 2018 farm bill. “I need that message to get to them (lawmakers),” said Conaway during an Axios interview. Foes say the package proposed by Conaway would create paperwork barriers to SNAP.