Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has detailed the impacts of the reconciliation bill passed by 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 measure signed into law by President Donald Trump. In addition, more than 130,000 Washingtonians could lose their benefits altogether.
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.
In addition, the state would be on the hook for an additional $87.8 million in administrative costs associate with the program. According to the Governor’s Office, the bill also increases Washington’s cost share of benefits by, at a minimum, more than $100 million.
