The monthly benefits provided by SNAP enhance the food purchasing power of eligible low-income individuals and families. However, the greatest shortcoming of SNAP is that benefits for most households are not enough to get through the entire month without hunger or being forced to sacrifice nutrition quality.
Read FRAC analyses about the Thrifty Food Plan (which is the basis for calculating SNAP benefits), the negative impacts of SNAP benefit shortfalls on health and well-being, and key strategies to improve SNAP benefit adequacy.
- Thrifty Food Plan (TFP)Huge SNAP Improvements Have Historic Roots (FRAC Chat by FRAC Founder Ron Pollack)
Thrifty Food Plan Revision Is Welcome News
TFP 101
- The Case for Improving SNAP Benefit Adequacy
FRAC Resources
SNAP Benefit Adequacy: What Does the Research Tell Us? (in partnership with Children’s HealthWatch)
FRAC Chat
Preparing for the Thrifty Food Plan Update from USDA (August 12, 2021)
New Estimates on SNAP Benefit Adequacy Shortfalls Underscore Urgency to Act Now (July 30, 2021)
Cost Tops List of Hurdles to Eating Healthy While Receiving SNAP: A New USDA Study (July 12, 2021)
New Research Reinforces Importance of Connecting Families with P-EBT and SNAP during the Pandemic (July 1, 2021)
Legislative Action to Improve SNAP Benefit Adequacy (June 24, 2021)
SNAP Promotes Food Security, Jobs, and Dignity During COVID-19 and Beyond (June 21, 2021)
ADA Anniversary Is a Time to Double Down on Investments for Inclusion (July 26, 2021)
- Making the Case for SNAPA Historic Day for SNAP (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, September 30, 2021)
SNAP Benefits Helped Older Adults During Pandemic (AARP, September 28, 2021)
- USDA Resources
SNAP Benefits – COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond (infographic)
SNAP and The Thrifty Food Plan page (includes Q&A)Blog: Thrifty Food Plan Re-evaluation Puts Nutrition in Reach for SNAP Participants (August 30, 2021)
Press: USDA Press Release (August 16, 2021)
Table: State-by-state impact of TFP revisions on SNAP Benefits
Memos:
- Cost of Living Adjustment for SNAP FY 2022 (August 16, 2021)
- SNAP Maximum Allotment Memo Delay (August 9, 2021)
Blog: The Thrifty Food Plan: What It Is and Why It Matters
Guidance: SNAP – FY 2022 Cost of Living Adjustments Without Maximum Allotments
Feedback: USDA TFP Listening Session about Updated SNAP Benefit Levels
Research: Barriers that Constrain the Adequacy of SNAP Allotments
- Flyers, notices, social media posts and additional resourcesEmergency Allotments (FRAC, Infographic)
Closing the Meal Gap Act (FRAC, Infographic)
Changes to SNAP Benefits (Ohio Association of Food Banks, Graphic)
SNAP Emergency Allotment Changes (Ohio Association of Food Banks, Graphic)
Thrifty Food Plan SNAP Benefit Changes (South Carolina Appleseed, Graphics)
Coloradans to see increase to SNAP benefits (Colorado Department of Human Services, Press Release)
Notice: SNAP Benefits Are Increasing (Colorado Department of Human Services)
Permanent Increase to SNAP Benefits Starting October 1, 2021 (Tweet and flyer)(Illinois Hunger Coalition)
