CHARTBOOK: SNAP & Hunger in NC

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program and plays a critical role in ensuring that North Carolina households can bring food to their tables. 

This CHARTBOOK provides an overview of the SNAP program in North Carolina including characteristics of recipients and its ability to reduce poverty. For basics on the program, see the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities’ --

“Policy Basics:  Introduction to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”

NC is Among the Hungriest Places in the US

NC has the 5th highest level of food insecurity, meaning that families lack the resources they need to get enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life.

17.3% Food Insecure

SNAP Participation is Tied to the Health of the Economy

SNAP participation is directly related to the economy. As the economy does worse, SNAP participation increases; as it does better, participation decreases.

This is because SNAP is such an important resource for families who experience economic hardship or job loss as a result of economic recessions.

SNAP Responds to Economic Changes

National Caseload Over Time, In Millions

Individuals with incomes up to 125% of poverty

Snap Participants

Source: USDA and U.S. Census Bureau.

SNAP Responds to Economic Changes

North Carolina Caseload Over Time, In Thousands

Source: USDA and U.S. Census Bureau.

Individuals in Poverty

Snap Participants

SNAP Costs Are Beginning to Stabilize

North Carolina SNAP Benefits, In Millions

Source: Congressional Budget Office, 2007-2013 SNAP State Activity Reports.Note: Projections based off Congressional Budget Office Federal projections. Excludes administrative costs.

SNAP benefits

in NC more than

doubled due to the

Great Recession.

As the economy

improves, costs are

expected to

stabilize.

SNAP Targets Vulnerable North Carolinians

Nearly three-quarters of people who receive SNAP benefits are either children or adults who live with children. The program is available to moderate income North Carolinians but many of the recipients are the most needy.

Nearly half of SNAP households live in deep poverty, meaning their incomes are below 50% of poverty ($12,125 a year for a family of 4).

Almost Three-quarters of North Carolinians

Who Receive SNAP Are Either Children or Adults Who Live with Children

Source: USDA’s Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2013.

Most SNAP Recipients are WhiteRacial Makeup of North Carolina SNAP

Participants

Source: NCFAST FNS Household Characteristics, April 2015.Note: Figures do not total to 100% because participants can identify as more than one race or ethnicity.

Who Does SNAP Reach in NC?

Source: Center on Budget’s analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data, Fiscal Year 2013.

Almost

70%70%of all SNAP participants are in families with children

More Than 29%29%

of all SNAP participants are in families with elderly or disabled members

More Than 47%47%

of all SNAP participants are in working families

North Carolinians who qualify for SNAP must have income levels at or below 130% of the poverty line. For a household with one adult and one child, this means a monthly income of $1,705 or less.

SNAP distributes benefits based on need. Very poor households receive higher amounts of benefits than do families with more income. A typical North Carolina household receives $265 in SNAP benefits per month. For an average family, this is only enough to cover 43% monthly food costs.

SNAP Benefits are Based on Need

Note: A federal provision allows a select NC households at 200% Federal Poverty Line to receive a portion of SNAP benefits. Both the number of households eligible and the benefits received are relatively small.

SNAP Reaches Needy Populations in NC

80%80% of households receiving SNAP live in poverty ($23,550 for a family of 4)

40%40% of households receiving SNAP live in deep poverty, with income below half of the poverty line ($11,775 for a family of 4)

Source: USDA’s Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2013.

SNAP Income Eligibility Levels are

below the NC Living Income Standard

SNAP Eligibility Income LevelsFamily Size

Monthly Income (130% of Poverty)

NC Living Income Standard

1 Adult $1,265 ---

1 Adult, 1 Child $1,705 $2,893

1 Adult, 2 Children $2,144 $3,823

2 Adult, 2 Children $2,584 $4,409

2 Adult, 3 Children $3,024 $5,414

Source: NC Justice Center Living Income Standard, 2014 and USDA.

Source: USDA, Fiscal Year 2014, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Average Monthly Benefit per Household compared to 2014 Living Income Standard, NC Justice Center, Raleigh, NC, 2014.

SNAP Benefits are ModestAverage Benefits as a Share of Monthly

Food Costs

Households with Children Receive the Highest Average Monthly

SNAP Benefit in NC

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ analysis of SNAP Household Characteristics data, Fiscal Year 2013.Note: Average monthly benefits represent 2015 allotment levels.

Counties with the Highest Percentage of

SNAP Participants

From East to West, SNAP Targets High-Need Communities

Counties with the highest percentage of residents receiving SNAP

1. Vance (36.8%)

2. Martin (33.1%)

3. Madison (32.0%)

4. Halifax (29.1%)

5. Robeson (28.8%)

Source: Special data request from CBPP and American Community Survey 5-year estimates, (2009-2013).

About 1 Million Childless Adults Across the US Will Lose SNAP

Benefits in 2016

Source: Recreated from Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, Off the Charts Blog.

Gender40% are female

AgeAlmost one-third are over age 40

Residence40% live in suburban areas

In many parts of the county, childless unemployed adults who cant find at least a half-time job or a job-training program for 20 hours a week will lose SNAP after three months, regardless of how hard they are looking for work.

The People At Risk Are a Diverse Group The people at risk of losing SNAP do not fit a particular stereotype

SNAP is a critical poverty alleviation tool

SNAP is proven to reduce poverty. In 2013, SNAP benefits lifted more than 70,000 North Carolina households out of poverty—and another 83,000 households out of deep poverty.

Between 2010 and 2013, the share of SNAP households in North Carolina with incomes below the poverty line dropped by 9%.

SNAP Benefits Lifted Nearly 83,000 North Carolina Households out of

Deep PovertyEffect of SNAP Benefits on the Poverty Levels

of NC Households, 2013

Source: USDA’s Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2013.

SNAP effective at reducing food insecurity

SNAP is effective at reducing food insecurities that families face. The amount of national households that faced food insecurities decreased by more than ten percent after receiving SNAP benefits for just six months.

In North Carolina, where one in four children face food insecurity, SNAP is critical is fighting childhood poverty.

Source: Recreated from Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, Chart Book.

Household Food Insecurity Decreased After 6 Months of SNAP Receipt

Moody’s Analytics estimates that in a weak economy, $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.70 in economic activity.

SNAP benefits pumped about $2.5 billion into North Carolina’s economy in 2013.

Source: Moody’s Analytics analysis cited in Center on Budget & Policy Priorities North Carolina profile.

SNAP Helps to Stimulate North Carolina’s Economy

SNAP as a public-private partnership

Number of stores accepting SNAP in NC

Source: USDA Food Atlas.

The number of stores accepting SNAP more than doubled between 2008 and 2015.

Every county in NC has SNAP participating businesses.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, ESRI.

SNAP as a public-private partnership

Stores accepting SNAP in 2012