Fact Check: "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assists over 40 million low-income Americans."
What We Know
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal assistance program designed to help low-income households afford food. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, in fiscal year (FY) 2023, SNAP served an average of 42.1 million participants per month. This figure indicates that the program indeed assists over 40 million Americans. Additionally, the program accounted for approximately 68% of USDA nutrition assistance spending, with total federal spending reaching $112.8 billion in FY 2023.
The data also reveals that 12.6% of U.S. residents received SNAP benefits during this period, with participation rates varying by state. For instance, some states reported participation rates as high as 23.1%, while others were as low as 4.6%. This broad reach underscores SNAP's role in providing nutritional support to a significant portion of the population.
Analysis
The claim that SNAP assists over 40 million low-income Americans is supported by multiple credible sources. The USDA's Economic Research Service is a reliable federal agency that provides comprehensive statistics and research on food and nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP. Their data shows consistent monthly participation figures that align with the claim.
Other sources, such as the Congressional Budget Office, project that the average number of SNAP participants will remain around 42.5 million in 2025, reinforcing the stability of participation numbers over time. Additionally, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities corroborates that SNAP is crucial in helping more than 41 million low-income individuals afford food each month, further validating the claim.
While some sources, like the Pew Research Center, provide context about recent changes to the program, they do not dispute the participation figures. Instead, they highlight the program's importance amid ongoing discussions about food security and economic policy.
Overall, the sources consulted are credible and provide consistent data that supports the claim. The USDA and other governmental agencies are authoritative in this area, making their statistics reliable for understanding SNAP's impact.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assists over 40 million low-income Americans" is accurate. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms that SNAP serves an average of 42.1 million participants per month in FY 2023, which is well above the 40 million threshold mentioned in the claim.
Sources
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Key Statistics and Research
- SNAP Data Tables | Food and Nutrition Service
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Statistics
- A Call for New Research in the Area of Nutritional Standards in SNAP
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Policy Basics: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- What the data says about food stamps in the U.S. - Pew Research Center
- SNAP Data: State-By-State Statistics (Updated: February 2025) - Food Research & Action Center
