Increased Social Security Payments Lead To Unexpected Cuts in SNAP

Some senior citizens in Dayton, Ohio, are seeing a more than 50% reduction in their monthly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. This comes as a shock to many of these individuals, who are already struggling to make ends meet, according to Mamie Bah in her published article on December 14, 2022.

One such senior citizen is 58-year-old Beth, who says that she “looks for deals, uses coupons, digital coupons, anything [she] can use to save money.” Beth received a letter from Greene County Job & Family Services stating that her benefits will be reduced from $85 to $23 starting in January.

Beth is not alone in receiving this letter. In the new year, Social Security benefits will go up, which means that Beth will see an increase in her income of $86. However, economists say that it is counterproductive for someone to be both a SNAP and Social Security recipient. Dayton 24/7 I reached out to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which said that in some cases, increases in other government programs can result in reduced SNAP benefits.

Dr. Kevin Willardsen, an associate professor of economics at Wright State, said that if someone is completely reliant on Social Security and SNAP benefits and spends a greater proportion of their income on groceries, their standard of living has fallen considerably since as late as 2019. Beth has reached out to the White House to get answers and said that she wants government leaders to understand what she is going through.