The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, costs the U.S. government around 120 billion dollars a year. This money helps millions of low-income families buy groceries so they don’t go hungry.
Most of that spending goes directly to benefits that people use on food. A smaller portion covers the costs of running the program, like keeping the system updated and making sure the funds are used properly. The cost can change each year depending on the economy. When times are hard, like during a recession or high inflation, more people need help, so the total cost goes up.
While it might sound like a lot of money, SNAP plays a big role in reducing hunger and supporting local grocery stores and farmers. Every dollar spent on SNAP helps generate more activity in the economy because people spend that money on food right away. So even though the program costs billions, it also gives a boost to communities across the country.
Introduction
Did you know the federal government spends close to $100 billion each year on SNAP? That’s a lot of grocery help for millions of families across the country. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is one of the largest anti-hunger programs in the United States. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how much SNAP costs the government, what makes the cost go up or down, and how that money helps communities. You’ll also learn where the funds come from, how benefits are distributed, and what critics and supporters say about its impact. Let’s dig in.
What Is SNAP and Why It Exists
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s a federal program that helps people buy food when money is tight. Most folks still call it “food stamps,” even though the paper stamps were replaced by debit-style EBT cards years ago. The goal of SNAP is simple: make sure families don’t go hungry.
This program started decades ago, way back in the 1930s, when the U.S. was in the Great Depression. Millions of people were out of work, and food was going to waste on farms. The government created a plan to buy that extra food and give it to families who needed it. In 1964, the Food Stamp Act made the program official, and it became what we now call SNAP. It’s changed a lot since then, but the main idea is still the same: help people afford groceries when times are hard.
Today, SNAP is one of the biggest safety nets in the country. It helps about 40 million people every month, including kids, seniors, and people with disabilities. The program gives out benefits based on income, family size, and expenses. So if a family earns less than a certain amount, they can apply for help. Once approved, they get an EBT card that works like a debit card at grocery stores, farmers markets, and even some online shops.
What’s important to know is that SNAP isn’t just for the unemployed. Many people who use it actually work full-time or part-time jobs but don’t make enough to cover rent, bills, and food. The program gives them a little breathing room so they can buy healthy meals instead of skipping them.
SNAP also plays a big role when the economy struggles. When unemployment rises or prices go up, more people apply for benefits. During big events like the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of new families turned to SNAP. The government added extra funds to help meet the higher demand. Then, as jobs returned and prices leveled out, the number of people using SNAP slowly went down.
Critics sometimes say SNAP costs too much or that it makes people rely on government help. But studies show that most people only use the program for a short time, often less than a year, until they get back on their feet. Supporters say it’s one of the best ways to reduce hunger and boost the economy because every dollar spent on SNAP helps local grocery stores, farms, and food suppliers too.
At its heart, SNAP exists to give people a fair shot. It’s not a handout; it’s a helping hand. For someone struggling to put food on the table, that card can mean the difference between going hungry and having dinner with their family. That’s why the program continues to be one of the most important tools the government has to fight hunger in America.
How Much Does SNAP Cost the Government in 2025
In 2025, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program costs the U.S. government around 100 billion dollars a year. That’s a huge number, but it helps millions of people buy food every single day. To put it simply, SNAP takes up about 1.5 percent of the entire federal budget. That may sound like a lot, but when you compare it to programs like Social Security or defense spending, it’s actually a small slice of what the government spends overall.
Most of that 100 billion dollars goes straight to food benefits for families. The rest covers administrative costs like running state offices, processing applications, and maintaining the systems that make the program work. Each month, about 41 million people receive help through SNAP. On average, each person gets around $187 in benefits per month, though this number can vary depending on where you live and how many people are in your household.
It’s interesting how the cost of SNAP changes from year to year. During the pandemic, the government spent over 120 billion dollars on the program because so many people lost jobs or faced higher grocery prices. Once the economy started recovering, the cost dropped again. Now, it’s settled around 100 billion, which experts say is normal for a strong economy with steady job growth.
The amount the government spends on SNAP depends on a few key factors. The first is how many people need help. When unemployment rises or inflation pushes food prices higher, more families qualify for assistance. The second factor is policy. Congress sets rules about how benefits are calculated and who can receive them. When lawmakers adjust those rules, like increasing benefits to match rising food costs, the total spending changes too.
The USDA, or United States Department of Agriculture, is the agency that manages SNAP. They make sure the funds go where they’re needed most. States handle the day-to-day operations, but the money comes from the federal level. Every year, Congress decides how much funding to approve based on data from the previous year’s program costs and economic trends.
Even though 100 billion sounds like a massive figure, it’s helpful to remember how far that money goes. Every dollar spent on SNAP creates about $1.50 to $1.80 in economic activity. That means the money doesn’t just help families; it helps grocery stores, farmers, truck drivers, and local communities too. When families spend their benefits, it keeps food businesses running and supports jobs.
Critics often focus on the price tag, arguing that SNAP is too expensive or that it should be trimmed down. But research shows the opposite. Cutting SNAP could end up costing more in the long run. When people don’t have enough to eat, their health declines, kids struggle in school, and local economies slow down. So, in many ways, SNAP is an investment in both people and the economy.
In 2025, the average household receiving SNAP includes working adults, children, or seniors on fixed incomes. It’s not just the unemployed who need help; it’s families trying to stretch every dollar in a world where groceries keep getting more expensive. For them, those benefits make a real difference between a healthy meal and an empty fridge.
So yes, SNAP costs the government about 100 billion dollars this year. But that cost supports millions of Americans and strengthens communities nationwide. It’s not just a line item on a federal budget sheet; it’s food on the table for families who might otherwise go without.
Where the SNAP Money Comes From
The money for SNAP doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It comes straight from the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Congress approves the funds each year as part of the federal budget. The USDA then sends that money to each state, which manages the day-to-day parts of the program like applications, eligibility checks, and distributing benefits.
SNAP is what’s called an “entitlement program.” That means anyone who qualifies for help has the legal right to get it. The government must provide enough money to cover every approved case, no matter how many people apply. So, if the economy takes a dip and more people need help, spending automatically goes up. There’s no fixed cap like in some other programs. It grows or shrinks based on need.
Most of the funding goes to benefits. These are the electronic credits people get on their EBT cards each month. For 2025, those benefits account for around 95 percent of the total SNAP budget. The rest, about 5 percent, goes to administrative costs. That pays for running local offices, maintaining the online systems, hiring caseworkers, and preventing fraud. Each state covers part of those costs, but the federal government still handles the majority of the bill.
It’s interesting how SNAP’s funding system balances national rules with local control. The USDA sets the income guidelines and benefit amounts, but each state can make small adjustments based on cost of living. For example, someone living in New York City may get a slightly higher benefit than someone in a rural area because food prices are different. This system keeps the program fair while still flexible enough to meet local needs.
The money itself comes from the federal budget’s general funds, the same pool that covers things like defense, education, and healthcare. Taxes collected from individuals and businesses go into that pool. From there, a portion is assigned to SNAP each year through the appropriations process. When Congress passes a budget, they look at data from the USDA about how many people use SNAP and how much it’s projected to cost.
During times of crisis, such as recessions or pandemics, the government can approve extra funding for SNAP. These emergency allotments are temporary boosts to help families deal with higher prices or lost income. The same thing happened nationwide during the pandemic when relief packages expanded SNAP benefits to millions of new households.
Some people think states pay most of the SNAP bill, but that’s not true. The federal government pays for all benefits directly. States mainly handle the operations and outreach side. They make sure stores are authorized to accept EBT cards, confirm that recipients qualify, and provide customer support. It’s a partnership, but Washington holds the financial reins.
So when you hear that SNAP costs around $100 billion, most of that comes from federal tax dollars approved by Congress and distributed through the USDA. Every year, those funds are reviewed and tracked to make sure they’re used properly. It’s a huge system, but it’s designed to move fast when people need help putting food on the table.
At the end of the day, the money behind SNAP represents something bigger than just spending. It’s a public promise that no American should have to go hungry just because they’re going through a rough patch. That’s where every dollar comes from the shared effort of millions of taxpayers supporting one of the country’s most important safety nets.