The US government allocates $522 billion to financial security benefits, including SNAP, to help low-income individuals and families in 2023, despite the world's richest economy.
(Credit: Youtube)
States with Highest SNAP Recipients: Despite having the richest economy in the world, the Census Bureau’s 2022 report estimates that 11.5% of Americans, or 37.9 million people, live in poverty.
The United States federal government provides low-income populations with economic security benefits worth billions of dollars annually. According to the CBPP estimate, the US will help low-income individuals and families in 2023 by allocating $522 billion, or around 8% of the federal budget, to financial security benefits.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a monthly cash grant to help pay for food, is one such benefit. It is aimed at low-income families and individuals who are unable to work because of a physical or mental handicap. The US paid a total benefit of more than $107.06 billion for SNAP in 2023, with an average of 42.15 million people, or roughly 12.5% of the US population, using the program, according to the USDA. In 2023, US SNAP spending was roughly $7 billion lower than in 2022.
For more background, the emergency allotments (EAs), which were short-term benefits intended to assist individuals in need during the pandemic, were discontinued by the federal government on March 1, 2023. As a result, in February 2023, the monthly snap expenditure was $10.47 billion; in March 2023, it was around $8.72 billion.
Furthermore, households’ SNAP payments were further severely reduced, bringing the total cost down to about $7.4 billion starting in April 2023. For further background, the average monthly SNAP benefit decreased in the first quarter of 2024 from $211.65 in 2023 to $190.12.
Discover the Top 30 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in the US
Furthermore, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), there will be a 1 million decrease in SNAP users in 2024, bringing the total to 41.1 million. The expansion of the US economy and the creation of jobs exceeding pre-pandemic estimates by the end of 2023 are the primary causes of the drop in SNAP participants.
Nonetheless, certain US states are doing better economically than others, which implies that certain states get more SNAP payments than others. State-by-state variations exist in SNAP payments; in January 2024, California, the most populous US state, earned the highest amount of benefits, totaling more than $1 billion. With 782,288 unemployed residents, California is ranked third among the states with the poorest job markets in 2023.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 12.98%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 587,805
Kentucky, with a population of nearly 4.5 million, is the 36th largest state in the union. According to preliminary data from January 2024, 587,805 people in Kentucky were using food stamps, with a poverty rate of 16.5% and an unemployment rate of 43.2%. The median household income for those in employment is $59,341, which is $15,414 less than the average for the country.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 13.24%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 389,267
With a population of nearly 2.9 million, Mississippi is one of the southern states in the union. Mississippi’s typical household income is $52,719. The Census reports that Mississippi’s median household income is $22,036 less than the $74,755 national average. In addition, the state’s 19.1% poverty rate is 6.5% greater than the US’s total poverty rate. In light of this, as of 2024, Mississippi ranks among the states in the US with the highest percentages of SNAP participants.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 13.69%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 5,335,531
With 39.5 million residents, California is a western state that ranks third in terms of area in the United States. California performs better than the national average in terms of both the median household income and the rate of poverty, according to Census data. To put things in perspective, the poverty rate in California is 12.2% and the median household income is $91,551. Despite this, California has the thirteenth highest rate of SNAP recipients in the US because of its enormous population.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 14.62%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 746,939
Roughly 5.02 million people are living in the US state of Alabama, which is in the Southeast. Alabama’s median household income, $59,674, is less than the US average, according to the Census. The rates of poverty and unemployment are 16.2% and 44.3%, respectively. In light of this, 14.62% of people take use of SNAP.
Top 25 Richest Billionaires in the Sports Industry: Wealthiest Players in the Game
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 14.80%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 2,897,231
The 30th largest state in terms of area is New York, one of the most visited states in the US. With a population of approximately 20.2 million, 40% of whom have completed higher education, it is home to a sizable population that reflects the state’s strong educational record. But New York has a higher than average unemployment rate of 40.6% of the population and a poverty rate of 14.3%. In addition, New York has the highest per-capita number of homeless people. (Also see: The 20 States with the Highest Rates of Homelessness Per Inhabitant)
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 14.98%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 1,504,350
More than ten million people live in Michigan, the state with the longest freshwater coastline in the union. Of these, 32.1% have completed higher education, and 58.7% of the population is employed. The typical household income for those in employment, however, is only $66,986, which is $7,769 less than the national average. Michigan’s poverty rate is 13.4% as well. When all of these criteria are taken into account, a sizable portion of the population needs food assistance, ranking the state 10th out of the top 15 states in the US for the greatest percentage of SNAP participants.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 15.31%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 1,984,531
Having a population of little over 13 million and a land area of 44,729.9 square miles, Pennsylvania is among the states in the US with the densest populations. 11.8% of people in the state live in poverty, while 39.9% of people are unemployed. Furthermore, the state’s median household income of $71,798 is only somewhat below the federal level. Because of its enormous population, Pennsylvania continues to rank among the states with the highest rates of SNAP participants in the US, even in spite of these favorable measures.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 15.32%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 1,923,443
Illinois, sometimes known as “the Prairie State,” is a US state that is in the Midwest. With nearly 12.8 million residents, the state is home to a sizable population, 37.7% of whom have a college degree and 61.7% of whom are employed. Illinois has a higher median household income ($76,708) than the state average. However, at 11.9%, the poverty rate is marginally lower than the national average. Like Pennsylvania and California, Illinois has a sizable population, which contributes to the state’s high SNAP participation rate.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 15.54%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 275,104
West Virginia, a state in the East of the United States ranked seventh, is well-known for its scenery and the Appalachian Mountains. With a geographic size of about 24,034.8 square miles, it is among the ten smallest states in the union. There are roughly 1.8 million people living in West Virginia, of whom only 24.8% hold a postsecondary degree and 49.8% are unemployed. In addition, the state’s median household income is a mere $54,329, and the poverty rate stands at an astounding 17.9%. As a result, as of 2024, West Virginia has the seventh-highest population of SNAP beneficiaries.
SNAP Benefits Changes 2024: New Bill Could Bring Major Changes to Food Stamps
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 15.67%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 1,097,389
Massachusetts is the fifth-smallest state in the US in terms of land area, with a total area of 7,798.9 square miles. Massachusetts, a state with a population of almost 7 million, comes in sixth place among states with the highest rates of SNAP participants, with 1,097,389 individuals obtaining food stamps.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 15.72%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 502,149
Nevada, a landlocked state in the US West famous for its casinos, festivals, lakes, and valleys, comes in fifth place on the list. With 3.1 million residents, Nevada—also referred to as the Silver State—is the seventh largest state in terms of area. In the state, the poverty rate stands at 12.5% and the median household income is $72,333. Of them, those under the age of eighteen make up the bulk of those who are impoverished. Furthermore, just 27% of the state’s population has a higher education degree, and the jobless rate is 40.7%.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 16.73%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 678,335
Oklahoma is a landlocked state that is situated in the nation’s south central area. Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Texas are its neighbors. Oklahoma, which is well-known for producing a lot of oil, natural gas, and agricultural goods, is home to around 4 million people and has the fourth-highest SNAP enrollment rate in the nation. $15,082 less than the state average, or $59,673, is the median household income in the state. In addition, the state’s poverty rate is 15.7%, unemployment is 42.2%, and just 28.5% of people have completed higher education.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 17.67%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 748,069
Oregon, a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is well-known across the world for its wineries and vineyards. With 4.24 million residents, it ranks as the tenth largest state in terms of size in the United States. Of these, 30% have completed higher education. In the state, the unemployment rate is 40.3%, the poverty rate is 12.1%, and the median household income is $75,657. As per our earlier analysis, Oregon ranks sixth among the states with the highest taxes in the United States.
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 18.58%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 850,023
Louisiana, a southeast state on the Gulf of Mexico ranked second on the list, is well-known for its festivals, food, and architecture. With a total land area of 43,193.1 square miles, 4.66 million people call Louisiana home. Out of them, just 27.1% of people have a college degree, 55.7% are working, and 18.6% are poor. The number of citizens living in poverty and the number of individuals obtaining food stamps are about equal. Furthermore, the state’s median household income is $19,339 lower than the federal average. Louisiana is one of the top two states in the nation for the total amount of food stamps received.
Top 20 States with the Highest Cancer Rates
Percentage of Residents Receiving Food Stamps: 19.48%
Number of Residents that Participated in SNAP: 411,962
At the top of the list is New Mexico, a state in the US Southwest with a population of over 2.1 million, 411,962 of whom were SNAP participants as of the first statistics available in January 2024. In addition to having the most proportion of SNAP beneficiaries in the nation, New Mexico is among the top 5 states with the greatest oil reserves, is well-known worldwide for having produced the nuclear weapon, and has a variety of landscapes, including the site of the Roswell incident. The state’s median household income is $59,726; the poverty rate is 17.6%.
SAVE plan suspension affects American students, affecting married borrowers' monthly payments on federal student loans,…
SNAP program provides monthly payments to people with income, ensuring they can afford groceries, based…
American Airlines is introducing free high-speed Wi-Fi on over two million flights starting January 2026,…
Social Security payments are scheduled for Wednesdays throughout the month, with those born between the…
Forbearance temporarily suspends student loan payments, providing a temporary break for those experiencing financial difficulties.
TSCL predicts a 2.3% increase in the COLA for 2026, slightly higher than their previous…