SNAP

NCDHHS holds briefing on how federal proposals will impact Medicaid and SNAP recipients

2:19pm July 01, 2025

The NCDHHS Zoom meeting discussed the potential impacts of proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts on North Carolina. Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized the severe cuts, including North Carolina potentially covering $700 million annually for SNAP benefits and $420 million for administrative costs. Deputy Secretary Jay Ludlum detailed the potential $40 billion loss in federal funding for Medicaid over 10 years, affecting rural hospitals and communities. And Governor Stein urged lawmakers to oppose the cuts, citing the critical role of SNAP and Medicaid in North Carolina's health and economy.

What children in poverty could lose from the 'Big Beautiful Bill'

9:33am June 20, 2025

Republicans want to change or reduce key social safety net programs that provide health care, food benefits and financial assistance for millions of children.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina worker loads a truck.

Second Harvest Food Bank responds to proposed SNAP budget cuts

3:44pm June 11, 2025

by David Ford

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina CEO Eric Aft discusses the statewide impacts of proposed federal cuts to SNAP.

New York Food Pantries Report Increase In Of Those In Need

National

GOP's budget package proposes to cut benefits and raise fees for legal immigrants

1:39pm May 28, 2025

The goal of the changes, which head to the Senate next week, is to save money and send a signal that Republicans are tough on immigration.

Queue Listen Now

The increase in food insecurity in 2022 reverses a decade-long decline in the number of U.S. households experiencing hunger.

Millions of American families struggle to get food on the table, report finds

1:18pm October 26, 2023

by Maria Godoy

17 million U.S. households were food insecure in 2022. That's 3.5 million more than the prior year. Families with children and people of color experienced higher than average rates of food insecurity.

Queue Listen Now

The head of the USDA says most WIC beneficiaries would lose access to the program within a few days of a government shutdown, leaving them unable to buy healthy food.

Millions of Americans will lose food assistance if the government shuts down

2:12pm September 26, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

A shutdown would affect the nearly 7 million women and children who rely on WIC for healthy food. Free school lunch and Meals on Wheels are also at risk, and SNAP could be impacted eventually too.

Queue Listen Now

Volunteer Ella Cagle of Wake Forest loads bags with frozen meat. The food bank serves individuals and families in need with a week's worth of groceries.

Politics & Government

Congress tackles food stamp changes in the farm bill

5:40pm July 11, 2023

by Ximena Bustillo

Some members want to use the package for changes that could expand or limit access to the country's biggest food safety net program.

Queue Listen Now

Jaqueline Benitez pushes her cart down an aisle as she shops for groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Benitez, 21, who works as a preschool teacher, depends on California's SNAP benefits to help pay for food.

Politics & Government

Congress created changes to food assistance. Here's what they mean

1:04pm June 02, 2023

by Ximena Bustillo

In an effort to avoid defaulting on the nation's loans, lawmakers created updates to SNAP, the nation's largest food assistance safety net. There are new work requirements as well as exemptions.

Queue Listen Now

Additional benefits during the pandemic helped SNAP recipients reduce hunger and buy more expensive, healthy food.

Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end

10:58am March 01, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

Millions of people who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP will see a cut of $90 a month or more. Some recipients say it will make it harder to buy healthy food.

A sign noting the acceptance of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which SNAP beneficiaries use to pay for food, is displayed at a grocery store in 2019 in Oakland, Calif. SNAP emergency allotments are ending after this month and have already ended in some parts of the country.

SNAP recipients will lose their pandemic boost and may face other reductions by March

5:04am February 02, 2023

by Kaitlyn Radde

Congress ended the temporary benefit meant to help low-income households with pandemic-era hardships. A huge increase in Social Security benefits may mean some households see further SNAP reductions.