SNAP recipient’s benefits slashed: ‘Who lives on $24 a month?’

NEW YORK CITY (WPIX) — After months of drastic changes to SNAP, some beneficiaries say they’re going hungry after their monthly benefits were slashed to near-nothing.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP) has been undergoing reforms and changes since the passage of the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP provided 1 in 8 Americans with help buying groceries last year.

So many people have been kicked off SNAP, that number has since changed to an estimated 1 in 9 Americans, The Associated Press reports. Nearly 5 million fewer people received food aid in March when compared to last year.

Shiela Boyd, an 81-year-old New York resident who spoke with Nexstar’s WPIX, wasn’t kicked off the program, but said her benefits were suddenly cut from $298 a month to just $24.

“I can’t buy nutritious food. Who lives on $24 a month?” Boyd said. “I need more money to eat.”

Now, she says almost all the food she eats comes from donations. Sometimes she has to skip meals because there isn’t enough to eat.

It happened to Boyd after an income recalculation in the spring, which looked at her gross Social Security benefit — not the actual net income that hits her bank account every month, which is lower.

Boyd is not alone. Changes to SNAP requirements have been rolling out over the past year, adding work requirements for more adults and granting fewer exceptions. It also removes some income deductions that were previously allowed, like the cost of internet and utilities.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the changes, in all, would result in 2.7 million fewer people receiving SNAP benefits.

In Boyd’s case, she tried to appeal the benefit recalculation, but was denied in her hearing. She argued her net Social Security income, not gross income, should be used in calculating her benefits amount, but the state commissioner overseeing the appeal disagreed.

“The Agency’s determination as to the adequacy of the Appellant’s SNAP benefits is correct,” the commissioner ruled.

Boyd told WPIX she has been losing weight since going hungry. “I weigh 102 pounds,” she said, and is thinking outside the box to find new ways to feed herself. “I’m trying to sell things … like jewelry. My whole lifestyle is different now.”

“I spend most of my day trying to find a way to get money to sell things,” she continued. “You know you work hard all your life, and this is what they — it’s a slap in the face. I think it’s unforgivable.”

In a press release defending the SNAP reforms, the White House said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill promotes work, responsibility, and restores SNAP to serve the truly needy. … The mission of the program has failed. SNAP was intended to be temporary help for those who encounter tough times — we are strengthening this program to serve those who need it most.”

SNAP recipient’s benefits slashed: ‘Who lives on $24 a month?’

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