The state of food security

Nationwide, 12.4% of Americans rely on food stamps, many of them children, elderly, or disabled. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, a family of four would need to make $31,980 or less per year. The average household receives $256 per month to spend on groceries.

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New Mexico has the highest share of residents using food stamps, at 21.49%. With one in four people there receiving SNAP benefits, any changes to the food stamp program would heavily impact the state.

Thanks to the cuts, some SNAP participants may see their benefits slip from $281 per month for food to just $28. Some experts anticipate that the loss of excess funds during a time of high inflation will prompt more people to seek out food banks.

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