Minnesota SNAP recipients worry about hunger while political battle casts doubt on November benefits
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Trudy Kaiser purchases a pound of hamburger for about $7.50, along with tater tots and soup. She combines all the ingredients into a hot dish, bakes it, and eats this meal for an entire week.
Kaiser, 61, has been receiving SNAP benefits since 2013 after developing an autoimmune disease, and she said she would return to work again if she could.
“I had a job, a very good job, until I became disabled. And I know a lot of other people that are in the same boat,” Kaiser said. “So, I think the ‘get a job’ trope is just so tired, and I'm tired of it. Some of us out here are struggling just to pay our medical bills and counting on those SNAP dollars to help make up some of that.”
This month's SNAP payments were expected to begin arriving on Nov. 4, but they have not been delivered on time.
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Last week, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must continue providing food assistance during the government shutdown, in response to the administration’s refusal to fully fund the program. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that it will only partially fund SNAP, disbursing just half the usual amount recipients would typically receive.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the largest anti-hunger program in the United States. About 440,000 Minnesotans, including children, seniors and adults with disabilities, receive SNAP benefits to buy groceries.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families is currently unsure about the amount of funding that will be available, as they have not received any updated guidance regarding these funds.
A spokesperson said that it will take time for the USDA to distribute funds to the states and for the benefits to reach recipients. They also noted that delayed and partial benefits will likely lead recipients to continue relying on local food shelves and food banks to make ends meet.
This back-and-forth is causing confusion, leaving many uncertain about how much assistance they will receive and when their benefits will arrive. As a result, SNAP recipients feel vulnerable and caught in the middle of the shifting political views surrounding government food assistance.
Charles is 55 years old and lives in Eagan. For over 20 years, he worked as an IT consultant until a medical condition impacted his mobility and ability to continue at his job. For the past year and a half, he has relied solely on monthly SNAP benefits to purchase food.
MPR News agreed to only use Charles’ first name due to concerns of harassment.
Charles has not yet visited a food shelf and does not plan to do so.
“I know they have higher quality food at the food bank, but I haven't wanted to go and make use of it, because I have enough food as it is,” Charles said. “So that can go to someone who needs to rely on the food bank more than I do.”
During his time as an IT consultant, Charles said that he was well compensated and often took many things for granted that he now realizes he should not have. He added that he never had to worry about how much he was spending on food.
The requirements for qualifying for SNAP benefits are strict. Eligibility is based on factors such as household size, income and expenses. The application process involves interviews, providing documentation and ongoing verification of eligibility.
Those who receive SNAP benefits are issued an Electronic Benefit Transfer card that works like a debit card. Funds are deposited monthly. For instance, Charles can use his EBT card at grocery stores, farmers' markets and convenience stores in Minnesota.
Charles said that SNAP benefits are often perceived as an excessive amount of money given to recipients. In Minnesota, the program provides an average of less than $6 per person per day, resulting in a total monthly benefit of under $180. His shopping list includes only essential items with no extra treats.
He said if he indulges in any non-essential items, he risks going hungry. Charles mostly eats pasta and peanut butter sandwiches and said this is the most calorie-dense option available to him.
“If you vary from your list, you will find yourself hungry, and it's not enjoyable to go through that for any period of time,” Charles said.
Charles emphasized that maintaining this balance is crucial for him, as he has no other resources.
“In my particular case, I depleted all of my savings up to this point in order to be able to qualify for any of this. They made sure that everything was gone,” Charles said. When I started this, I had exactly $0, and without assistance, I have exactly $0.”
Charles took some time to figure out how to effectively allocate his SNAP benefits to ensure he had enough food to last until the next monthly deposit. He said the amount he receives is barely sufficient to live on without careful planning. Initially, Charles struggled to manage his benefits and experienced significant hunger for about a month.
In case of emergencies, he has stockpiled food and believes he has enough to last for four to six weeks. Charles expressed frustration that many people do not understand the struggles faced by people receiving SNAP benefits and said they are often up against a wall. He is particularly upset by the ongoing discussions about waste and fraud in politics.
“One of the things I don't think people take into account in the country in general, is that if you help people, if you provide assistance to people, help them get out of bad circumstances, that's an investment in people,” Charles said.
Sophia Lenarz-Coy, the executive director of the statewide nonprofit The Food Group, said that benefits are currently in crisis because it is impossible to scale a system like the federal safety net and multiply it by 10 in a matter of weeks.
She mentioned that many individuals who rely on SNAP or use food shelves are very cautious and aware of their situation, and they want resources to be distributed as widely as possible. Lenarz-Coy added that stories of individuals cheating the system tend to receive more attention.
“But the truth is, we have so many people who will come and make a small donation to the Food Group, saying that they have been helped in the past. This idea of food insecurity, for a lot of folks, is a moment in time,” Lenarz-Coy said. “There's a lot of things that feel really complicated and hard to solve, but getting everybody access to food that's actually quite a solvable problem.”
She emphasized that achieving this goal requires partnerships and resources, and she firmly believes that everyone should have access to food, with SNAP being a vital part of that equation.
In July, the U.S. House passed a reconciliation bill that cuts SNAP benefits by nearly $300 billion over the next 10 years.
For Charles and Kaiser, they may receive partial benefits in November, but without full SNAP support, Kaiser will struggle to afford the special supplements necessary for maintaining her health. As a result, her prescriptions might have to wait. She can turn down the heat, but it is already cold in her apartment.
“It's like, well, do you pay your medical bills, or do you buy food and medicine? I'm just not sure what to do at this point,” Kaiser said. “I try not to think about it too much and try to take it a day at a time, because that's really all anybody can do.”
