Food Stamp Benefits by State [Updated January 2023]

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides a monthly supplement to the food budget of low-income families. Families are provided this benefit via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card that works like a debit card. SNAP is the largest federal assistance program in the United States. About 38 million people in the United States benefited from the SNAP program in 2019 alone. This is about 12% of the total population.

Eligibility for SNAP

To be eligible for SNAP, you must meet certain requirements and must apply in the state in which you currently live. SNAP has income requirements as well as work requirements. Work requirements for SNAP include: registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours, taking a job if offered, and participating in employment and training programs, if assigned by the state. Additionally, able-bodied adults without dependents are required to work at least 20 hours per week for more than 3 months in a 36-month period to receive benefits. There are separate eligibility requirements for the elderly and disabled.

SNAP Benefits by State

The number of households receiving food stamps is relatively proportional to that state’s population. California, Texas, New York, and Florida, which have the four largest populations, have the highest number of households using the SNAP program. Most SNAP participants in every state live below the poverty line. The states with the highest number of households using the SNAP program are:

1. California (1,184,710)
2. Texas (1,167,720)
3. New York (1,094,790)
4. Florida (1,080,770)
5. Pennsylvania (6363,466)
6. Ohio (636,663)
7. Illinois (631,076)
8. Michigan (551,968)
9. North Carolina (515,577)
10. Georgia (506,957)

In California, 1,184,710 households receive food stamp benefits. This is about 3,780,000 people or 10% of the state population. In Texas, about 3,406,000 people receive food stamp benefits. On the other hand, the states with the lowest percentage of food stamp participants are Wyoming, North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Utah, which all have less than 8% of their total population participating in the SNAP program.