After Extra SNAP Benefits Expire, Some Fear A "Hunger Cliff"
Millions of Americans will have less money to spend on groceries this month, after the expiration of pandemic aid that boosted SNAP payments. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption
Millions of Americans will have less money to spend on groceries this month, after the expiration of pandemic aid that boosted SNAP payments.
Mario Tama/Getty ImagesSome 16 million American households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get less money this month.
During the pandemic, the federal government temporarily increased SNAP benefits. But those extra benefits have now expired. That means recipients will get about $90 less each month on average, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research institute. Some families may see their benefits cut by more than $250 per month.
Dr. Megan Sandel, co-director of the Boston Medical Center's Grow Clinic, which focuses on treating malnutrition issues in kids, explains how children's health can suffer when families are not able to put enough food on the table.
And NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith reports on another worrying trend in Americans' personal finances. Credit card debt is increasing at a record rate, as people struggle to keep up with inflation.
This episode also features reporting from NPR's Alison Aubrey.
In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Lauren Hodges and Linah Mohammad with engineering by Neil Tevault. It was edited by Ashley Brown, Uri Berliner and William Troop. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.