Thousands of families in Ohio could lose SNAP benefits under new proposal

OHIO — Thousands of residents across Southwest Ohio could lose access to federal food assistance, while tens of thousands more may see their benefits reduced under proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

The proposals, backed by congressional Republicans, aim to cut costs and promote what supporters describe as fiscal responsibility and personal accountability.

Changes to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, would slash the program’s funding by 30%—amounting to a $300 billion reduction over the next decade.

SNAP currently provides an average of $191 per month to one in nine low-income, elderly, and disabled Ohioans to purchase groceries.

According to the CBPP’s analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data, 62% of participating Ohio households are families with children.

In addition to benefit reductions, the proposed federal budget would shift half of the program’s administrative costs to states.

For Ohio—already weighing billions in budget cuts—that could lead to increased financial pressure on state services.

The cuts are part of a broader effort to offset trillions in proposed tax cuts expected to benefit higher-income earners, the CBPP said.

Work requirements are also expected to become more stringent. Lawmakers are considering raising the work requirement age from 54 to 65 and requiring adults with children over the age of 7 to work in order to receive benefits.

However, 86% of households that received SNAP in 2021 already reported earned income, according to U.S. Census data, indicating that most eligible recipients who are able to work already do.

At the state level, Ohio lawmakers are considering further changes, including requiring monthly income reporting, mandating employment for “able-bodied” adults without dependents, and prohibiting the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages with SNAP benefits.

Ohio’s legislature is also reviewing a proposed $5 million investment to upgrade EBT cards with enhanced security chips in an effort to prevent fraud.

The fate of these proposals remains uncertain as both federal and state lawmakers continue debate.