Data from the Maryland Department of Human Services offers a detailed look at how recent federal SNAP changes are affecting residents across the state.
As in a Baltimore Banner article, nearly 36,000 Marylanders have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since federal changes enacted through the HR 1 took effect, according to data from the Maryland Department of Human Services.
SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program, provides monthly food assistance to eligible low-income households. As previously covered by MACo, historically, the federal government covered SNAP benefits and split administrative costs with states. Under HR 1, states must now shoulder 75% of administrative expenses, beginning in FY 2027.
HR 1 makes sweeping changes to SNAP by expanding work requirements, narrowing eligibility for certain populations, reducing federal funding, and shifting a greater share of program costs to states. Maryland’s SNAP dashboard shows that adults ages 55 to 64 have been among the hardest hit, with approximately 12,400 losing benefits after work requirements were extended to older adults.
From the Baltimore Banner article:
Before HR 1 took effect, these work rules applied to those 18 to 54 years old who were “able-bodied adults without dependents.” The rules expanded to include those up to 64 years of age, as well as veterans, homeless people and former foster youth.
Nearly 11,900 families also lost eligibility after the age threshold for dependent children was lowered from 18 to 14, requiring more parents of teenagers to meet work requirements. Additionally, roughly 11,400 individuals experiencing homelessness and 4,500 refugees, asylum seekers, and certain immigrants are no longer eligible under the revised federal rules.
