After weeks of disruption caused by the federal government shutdown in November, SNAP payments are being issued again. But for millions of low income families, the relief may only be temporary.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest federal nutrition program, helping low income households afford groceries through monthly benefits.

Bella Smith, Advocacy Hunger Fellow at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, shared that the warning signs appeared even before benefits were disrupted on Nov. 1, when USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) froze funding for SNAP.

“The last week of October, we saw a 22 percent increase in people served compared to the year before,” she said. “People knew their SNAP wasn’t coming, so they were preparing ahead of time.”

According to recent reporting by CNN, an expansion of work requirements is now forcing large numbers of Americans off SNAP entirely. While benefits are now being distributed, new federal rules are rapidly changing who qualifies and who does not.

Under provisions in the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ passed by Congress over the summer and signed by President Trump, most SNAP recipients must now work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month to remain eligible. If they fail to meet the requirement, they may receive benefits for only three months in a three-year period.

The changes extend eligibility to adults up to age 64 and now include parents of children ages 14 through 17. States have also lost much of their ability to waive work requirements during economic downturns unless unemployment exceeds 10 percent.

In Ohio, these changes will go into effect on Feb. 1, 2026 and recipients will have to demonstrate proof of compliance by March 1, 2026.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, these changes are likely to result in 2.4 million fewer Americans receiving SNAP each month over the next decade. More than 300,000 families with children are expected to be affected.

In public school systems such as Beachwood, educators continue to monitor students’ needs, even as the effects of SNAP changes have not been clearly apparent.

Principal Paul Chase explained what he has seen in the past few months at BHS, where nearly one in five students qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

“I don’t think it [food insecurity] was more noticeable, but I think that there has always been a need that we can have additional meals, foods, snacks and nutrition,” Chase said. “So did I see an increase [in food insecurity] at that moment in time? No, but the need has always been there.”

However, Chase shared that the school has taken steps to support students who may be struggling with food insecurity.

“Mrs. Erkins and I work with the PTO, and there’s a donation fund that we established that comes from the central office,” he said. “That donation fund is usually replenished at the beginning of the year and the semester, and it includes snacks.”

Chase explained that Asst. Principal Aubrei Erkins oversees much of the school’s snack distribution.

“Mrs. Erkins houses a lot of different snacks in her office, and we replenish it a few times a semester with help from the current assistance fund or donations from the PTO, including food and sometimes money,” he said.

Chase also emphasized the importance of ensuring families can access existing meal programs. 

“We also make sure parents have access to the free and reduced lunch form through Infinite Campus,” he said. “Once they fill that out, students can receive a free meal if they qualify for free or reduced lunch.”

According to Chase, other schools have responded in different ways depending on the level of need.

“I think some schools have more needs, and in some cases less need,” he said. “I don’t think it would be fair to name a single school, but sometimes there are care packages made before breaks. I’ve seen that done in places I’ve worked, where students go home with additional food because they’re not receiving lunches during that time.”

He added that many schools focus on connecting families to community resources beyond the school building.

“Other schools also do a good job connecting families with resources outside of school, like local food banks, and making sure families know where to go to have enough food, especially over winter break when students may not be receiving free and reduced lunch benefits,” Chase said.

Beachwood Schools Asst. Treasurer Diana Maher provided statistics on the number of students in grades 6-12 receiving free and reduced lunch, noting that these figures fluctuate slightly from month to month as school enrollments change. 

“Currently, 19.5% of high school students and 19.7% of middle school students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program,” she said.

These numbers indicate that roughly one in five students at both the middle and high school levels rely on free or reduced lunch, suggesting that food insecurity is a real concern for many students in the district.

Beyond schools, the effects of SNAP changes are slowly being observed in other parts of the community as well.

At the retail level, the impact is quiet but noticeable, especially since food prices rose 23.6 percent in 2020-24 and have continued to rise in 2025. Julia, a Heinen’s employee, said customer behavior has begun to shift in subtle ways.

“They’ve been asking more about what types of payment we accept,” she said, noting that shoppers appear uneasy about the reliability of the benefits.

When asked whether she has seen SNAP cards fail or transactions denied, she responded that she has  only seen it happen twice. Despite recent changes, the store has not modified pricing or discounts.

“We haven’t adjusted anything specifically,” she said.

On the other hand, the impact has been apparent in food banks.

Smith from the Cleveland Food Bank said that in addition to food, her organization has recently started connecting people to housing, healthcare and utilities.

Smith explained that the Cleveland Food Bank serves six counties across Northeast Ohio, including both urban and rural communities.

“I think there’s a misconception that we mostly serve homeless people,” she said. “We do serve unhoused individuals, but for the most part we’re serving children, seniors and your average working families who aren’t making enough to make ends meet, especially as inflation gets worse and grocery prices go up.”

During the lapse in SNAP benefits in early November, Smith acknowledged that demand surged.

“We usually serve about 240 to 260 people per day,” she said. “Last Thursday [Nov. 4], we served 486 households in one day. That was an all-time high.”

One of the greatest misconceptions, Smith said, is the belief that charitable food programs can take over when federal benefits disappear.

“For every one meal that we provide, SNAP provides nine,” she said. “We do not have the capacity to meet the need if SNAP goes away.”

She also explained why SNAP is fundamentally different from emergency food programs.

“SNAP allows families to shop at grocery stores in their communities, whenever it’s convenient, and choose what they need,” she said. “Food pantries are more like emergency resources. You usually get a pre-packed box or bag, and there isn’t much choice. Some pantries only distribute once a month.”

When benefits vanish, Smith said, families change how and even whether they eat.

“People start relying on cheaper, unhealthier food,” she said. “Boxed mac and cheese, canned foods, processed things… Fresh vegetables become a luxury.”

Unfortunately, people who are food insecure often struggle to meet other basic needs as well.

“Once SNAP is gone, families can’t spend money on shoes for their kids, hygiene products, or prescriptions. Groceries start competing with rent and utilities,” she said.

According to a 2024 survey of Ohio food pantry clients by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, 57.8 percent of families said they must choose between paying for food and paying for medical care.

Smith emphasized that the SNAP changes have immediate impacts on certain groups.

“About 4,000 immigrants in Cuyahoga County lost SNAP benefits on November 1,” she said. “And around 17,000 older adults here will be impacted as the work requirements now cover people ages 55 to 64.”

She added that parents of teenagers, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are also likely to lose benefits.

On Nov. 10, an analysis by Ohio Capital Journal warned Ohio’s economy and families were facing disaster when the administration threatened to block SNAP payments during the shutdown.

At the time, 1.4 million Ohioans were at risk, with the state projected to lose $130 million in food support per month. The average monthly benefit was just $186 per person.

Though payments resumed, the crisis remains: access is shrinking.

This matters because SNAP does far more than feed families.

Research by the Urban Institute states that it reduces food insecurity by about 30 percent, and that it kept 2.9 million Americans out of poverty in 2021.

But statistics tell only part of the story.

For families in need, Smith emphasized that help is available regardless of immigration status.

“We have food pantries available to anyone,” she said. “You can use the food pantry locator on our website. Just put in your zip code and it will show you the food pantries near you.”

Those who need more personalized support can also call the organization’s help center.

“They can connect you with food, housing support, healthcare resources and we provide translation services if needed,” she said.

Smith also highlighted the Community Resource Center in Collinwood, where multiple services are available in one place.

“We don’t just provide food,” she said. “We have partners at our center that help with housing, medical care, diapers, clothing and other basic needs. There’s even a doctor’s office on site.” 

For those who want to help, Smith encouraged volunteering and spreading awareness.

“Volunteer if you can,” she said. “There are opportunities through the food bank and through local food pantries, especially around the holidays.”

She recommended two volunteer roles in particular:

“Repack is where people help assemble emergency food boxes,” she said. “And at our Healthy Choice Market, you get to talk to families, help them shop and help load groceries into their cars. Those are my two favorites.”

Finally, she urged people to be understanding towards those in need.

“I wish people were more empathetic,” Smith said. “Most of the people we serve are just average families doing their best. Hunger doesn’t mean failure. It means something in the system isn’t working.”

She also emphasized that 67 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, meaning many families are just one emergency away from needing help.

Smith stressed one final message for the community.

“A lot of people call us and ask if we’re closing,” she said. “We are not going anywhere. We will always be here. We don’t rely on just one funding source. No matter what happens, we will still serve food.”

But she also made clear that charity cannot replace national policy.

“We can help, but we cannot carry this alone,” she said.