The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is at risk nationwide due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Delays in routine payments to state agencies have raised the possibility that millions of Texans -- including families in North Texas -- could lose their SNAP benefits.

Dallas-Fort Worth ranks third among U.S. metro areas for the number of people facing hunger, according to the Map the Meal Gap study by nonprofit Feeding America, which analyzed 2023 data and highlighted a complex reality for Texas and one of its largest metro areas.

What is SNAP?Breaking News

Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.

Or with:

Google

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, informally known as food stamps, provides monthly food benefits to low-income households through electronic benefit cards, known as Lone Star Cards in Texas.

More than 3 million Texans rely on SNAP each month -- about one in 10 residents statewide -- according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Who receives SNAP?

SNAP benefits support individuals and families with limited income who need help buying food.

In Texas, recipients include working adults with low wages, children, older adults and people with disabilities, according to Feeding America.

In Texas, recipients receive an average of $379 a month in Lone Star Card benefits to use at grocery stores, according to Feeding America. Many recipients are employed but earn below the federal poverty level, making SNAP a critical source of food assistance for working households.

About two-thirds of SNAP recipients live in families with children, and nearly one-third live in households with seniors or people with disabilities, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

AdvertisementWhat are the new SNAP rules taking effect?

In addition to the risk of delayed funding, new federal eligibility rules will take effect in November.

Adults without dependents will face stricter work requirements to continue receiving benefits, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

The upper age limit for mandatory work participation has increased from 49 to 54 and will rise to 65 by 2026 under the Big Beautiful Bill.

AdvertisementHow many Texans could lose benefits?

Texas has a food insecurity rate of 17.6%, representing 5.4 million people, according to Feeding America.

A Newsweek analysis estimates that more than 600,000 Texans could lose eligibility under the new work requirements.

Those most affected are part-time workers and older adults who do not meet new hourly work thresholds.

AdvertisementHow vital are SNAP benefits to the local economy?

SNAP benefits inject over $450 million into the Texas economy every month through grocery purchases and retail spending, according to Texas Health and Human Services.

Any disruption could impact both households that rely on the program and the local businesses that depend on consumer food spending.

What are SNAP benefits, and why are they at risk?