In July of this year, the Trump Administration proposed a change to the rules that govern who is eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The new rules would prohibit states from expanding who is eligible for the program beyond the so-called federal baseline, which is $33,475 for a family of four — or 130% of the federal poverty level.
Under federal law, anyone who earns less than 130% of the federal poverty level is eligible for SNAP benefits. About 40 million Americans rely on food stamps. The program accounts for approximately 2% of the federal government’s budget.
