Changes to SNAP Could Reduce Student Access to Free School Meals

Abstract

Free school meal access has become increasingly intertwined with federal social safety net programs--including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)--to reduce duplicative paperwork for schools. The changes to SNAP that House Republicans have proposed would have downstream effects on free school meal access. The proposed changes to SNAP would lead to fewer directly certified students. The proposal also increases administrative costs and shifts a portion of benefit costs to states. Because states are required to maintain a balanced budget, any cost increases could lead to additional eligibility restrictions and potentially lower benefit amounts for households.