The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains one of the most important tools for reducing hunger in the U.S., especially for low-income older adults. But with so much uncertainty right now and a lot of misinformation circulating, it’s easy to misunderstand how the program really works.

Setting the record straight: 7 key facts about SNAP benefits

1. SNAP helps people make ends meet. SNAP can have a real impact on household finances. In 2023, many households receiving SNAP benefits, along with pandemic-related emergency allotments, saw their incomes rise above the poverty line. These combined benefits help families stretch their budgets, cover essential needs, and improve financial stability. In fact, more than half of SNAP households are lifted above the poverty level when both benefits are included.¹
2. The average SNAP benefit for older adults is $188/month.² While there is a pervasive myth that older adults who qualify for SNAP only receive $23/month in benefits, this is largely untrue. The $23 figure is the minimum monthly benefit a senior can receive—80% of SNAP participants age 60+ receive more than the minimum. Many older adults may be able to take advantage of deductions for other expenses that can increase their monthly SNAP allotment. 
3. Many older adults who qualify for the excess medical expense deduction don’t use it. Seniors who spend more than $35 a month on out-of-pocket medical costs may be able to deduct that from their gross income when applying for SNAP, thus increasing their monthly benefit amount. Currently only 16% of older adults utilize the medical expense deduction, but it is estimated that many more SNAP-eligible older adults would qualify to use it.⁴ To learn more about the deduction, see our fact sheet SNAPshots: Maximizing the SNAP Medical Expense Deduction for Older Adults.
4. Isolation is a key factor in the lives of many older adult SNAP participants. Roughly 85% of older adults who receive SNAP benefits live alone.³ More than half of these isolated seniors have little to no income—depending entirely on general assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other benefits for their subsistence. For these individuals, the $2,256 in average annual SNAP benefits² can mean the difference between having food and going without.
5. SNAP is good for the local economy. SNAP benefits are spent at community grocery stores and markets, thereby infusing money into the local economy. An analysis of the fiscal stimulus measures from USDA’s Economic Research Service found that additional SNAP benefits created the best return on investment, with every $1 in additional SNAP benefits generating $1.79 in local economic activity.  On a larger scale, it is estimated that an additional $1 billion in SNAP benefits would generate 8,900 full-time equivalent jobs.
6. Access to SNAP is associated with reduced health care costs. NCOA’s previous research on senior debt found that many older adults with debt make trade-offs that are potentially dangerous to their health, such as skipping meals and cutting pills in half. Access to benefits that help pay for food and health care reduces food insecurity and increase medication adherence—but the effects may be even bigger than that. A study of 60,000 low-income Maryland seniors found that SNAP participants are 23% less likely to enter a nursing home and 4% less likely to be hospitalized in the year after receiving SNAP than non-participants.⁵ SNAP participation was also linked to lower overall health care expenditures and Medicaid/Medicare costs.
7. You can find everything you need to help older adults access SNAP in one place. NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp help people match their unique situation to relevant programs, including SNAP, providing current eligibility requirements and application guidance. Even with potential delays from the government shutdown, this simple online tool can help you explore other local benefits that can help. Just enter your ZIP code to get started.

Sources

1. USDA. Characteristics of SNAP Households: Fiscal Year 2023. May 2, 2025. Found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/characteristics-fy23

2. USDA. Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2023. April 2025. Found on the internet at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-FY23-Characteristics-Report.pdf

3. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. A Quick Guide to SNAP Eligibility and Benefits. October 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/a-quick-guide-to-snap-eligibility-and-benefits

4. Food Research and Action Center. Best Practices for Capturing Allowable Medical Expense Deductions for SNAP. May 2019. Found on the internet at https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/best-practices-capturing-allowable-medical-expense-deductions-snap.pdf

5. Steven Carlson and Brynne Keith-Jennings. XNAP is Linked with Improved Nutritional Outcomes and Lower Health Care Costs. Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Jan. 18, 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-is-linked-with-improved-nutritional-outcomes-and-lower-health-care