Approximately 1 million Washingtonians receive SNAP benefits
OLYMPIA – Governor Bob Ferguson today detailed the devastating impacts of the reconciliation bill in Congress on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Each of the 1 million Washingtonians who receive assistance from SNAP will see their benefits reduced under the reconciliation bill that passed out of Congress today. In addition, more than 130,000 Washingtonians could lose their benefits altogether.
“This bill takes food from our most vulnerable Washingtonians to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy,” Ferguson said. “This bill is only beautiful to billionaires.”
Approximately 1 million Washingtonians use SNAP benefits every month to purchase food. The reconciliation bill reduces SNAP benefits to the average household under the Thrifty Food Plan by about $56 per month. It also decreases the maximum allotment per household. For example, the maximum allotment for a family of four would drop from $975 to $848.
The bill also means more than 130,000 Washingtonians will need to meet new work requirements to keep their SNAP benefits.
The cuts will also likely ripple through the Washington economy. According to United States Department of Agriculture estimates, each dollar from the SNAP program produces more than $1.50 in economic activity at grocery stores, farmers markets and more.
In addition, the state would be on the hook for an additional $87.8 million in administrative costs associate with the program. The bill also increases Washington’s cost share of benefits by, at a minimum, more than $100 million.