SNAP and food assistance statistics

36.09 million

people receiving SNAP · July 2026

SNAP Enrollment Fell to 36.09 million in July 2026

SNAP participation fell to 36.09 million people in July 2026. These are people in households receiving food assistance.

Data from

USDA
BLS
Census Bureau

SNAP participation is below 2019 in 36 of the 51 states and D.C.

The count fell in 36 of the states and D.C. in July 2026 compared with July 2019; 15 had more. SNAP, formerly called food stamps, is counted for the same month in both years to keep the seasonal starting point the same.

California had the largest increase, at 30.1%. Arizona had the largest decline, at 45.13%.

The comparison counts people receiving benefits; eligibility is a separate measure.

New Mexico has the highest SNAP count relative to its reference population

New Mexico’s July 2026 recipient count was equivalent to 20.48% of its 2024 population, the highest ratio among the states and DC. Utah had the lowest ratio, at 4.13%.

The population figure stays fixed at 2024, while participation describes July 2026. This provides a common reference for comparing places; it is not an exact share of the population living there in that month.

California had the largest number of recipients, at 5.09 million. A state can have the most recipients because it has a large population, while another has a higher count relative to its population.

SNAP participation in every state and DC
State	July 2026 recipients	July 2019 recipients	Change since July 2019 (%)	Recipients / 2024 population (%)
California	5.09 million	3.91 million	+30.1	12.92
Texas	2.76 million	3.36 million	−17.89	8.83
New York	2.67 million	2.61 million	+2.08	13.43
Florida	2.22 million	2.78 million	−20.15	9.5
Pennsylvania	1.71 million	1.75 million	−2.27	13.05
Illinois	1.48 million	1.78 million	−16.94	11.65
Georgia	1.33 million	1.37 million	−2.95	11.86
Ohio	1.32 million	1.38 million	−4.21	11.08
Michigan	1.32 million	1.16 million	+13.46	12.98
North Carolina	1.24 million	1.25 million	−0.4	11.26
Massachusetts	893,889	759,398	+17.71	12.53
Washington	832,201	809,551	+2.8	10.46
New Jersey	749,216	690,006	+8.58	7.89
Virginia	741,868	698,607	+6.19	8.42
Oregon	690,814	591,697	+16.75	16.17
Wisconsin	654,525	609,826	+7.33	10.98
Alabama	645,376	718,523	−10.18	12.51
Maryland	631,580	610,523	+3.45	10.08
Missouri	623,099	678,768	−8.2	9.98
Louisiana	613,661	791,070	−22.43	13.35
Tennessee	609,517	889,405	−31.47	8.43
Colorado	574,601	444,626	+29.23	9.65
Kentucky	555,896	518,431	+7.23	12.12
Oklahoma	534,590	573,259	−6.75	13.05
South Carolina	481,856	590,847	−18.45	8.79
Indiana	473,166	519,230	−8.87	6.83
New Mexico	436,190	447,874	−2.61	20.48
Arizona	433,841	790,722	−45.13	5.72
Minnesota	428,540	404,059	+6.06	7.4
Nevada	372,587	420,743	−11.45	11.4
Mississippi	311,920	446,420	−30.13	10.6
Connecticut	296,659	364,092	−18.52	8.07
West Virginia	248,226	303,102	−18.1	14.02
Iowa	242,731	311,638	−22.11	7.49
Arkansas	217,472	346,819	−37.3	7.04
Hawaii	158,135	162,260	−2.54	10.93
Kansas	154,781	198,962	−22.21	5.21
Maine	147,218	155,749	−5.48	10.48
Utah	144,650	168,361	−14.08	4.13
District of Columbia	131,264	109,146	+20.26	18.69
Idaho	119,890	142,933	−16.12	5.99
Nebraska	116,703	159,662	−26.91	5.82
Rhode Island	115,739	148,914	−22.28	10.41
Delaware	101,854	124,488	−18.18	9.68
New Hampshire	72,987	73,837	−1.15	5.18
Montana	72,352	106,298	−31.93	6.36
South Dakota	70,020	80,314	−12.82	7.57
Alaska	69,522	86,605	−19.73	9.39
Vermont	58,465	67,136	−12.92	9.02
North Dakota	49,511	47,645	+3.92	6.22
Wyoming	24,903	25,527	−2.44	4.24

Counts exclude Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which appear in the national total. Ratios use 2024 Census estimates.

SNAP participation fell from 41.6 million in July 2025 to 36.09 million in July 2026.

The count was down 13.2% from 41.6 million in July 2025. USDA marks the latest months as preliminary and subject to significant revision.

The monthly history below begins in October 2022. Earlier figures are fiscal-year averages, which describe a whole year’s average monthly participation. They remain in the history table with that label.

SNAP participation fell from 41.6 million in July 2025 to 36.09 million in July 2026.

People receiving SNAP, United States, monthly: October 2022–July 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture SNAP program workbooks; latest months preliminary · American Default

American Default Research

Download data (CSV)

SNAP income limits use gross and net income

Under regular rules, gross household income before deductions is limited to 130% of the poverty level. Net income after allowable deductions is limited to 100%. Households with an elderly or disabled member face the net test only, and state categorical eligibility policies can change the income and resource tests. Other program requirements also apply.

Food insecurity affected 13.7% of households in 2024

Food insecurity affected 13.7% of U.S. households in 2024, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. Those households had difficulty getting enough food for all their members at some point during the year.

The rate was not statistically different from the previous year’s estimate. Among all households, 5.4% experienced very low food security in 2024, meaning eating patterns were disrupted and food intake fell.

Food insecurity covers a wider range of difficulty obtaining food; it does not mean every household member went hungry. SNAP counts people each month; the survey measures households’ experiences over a year.

Food insecurity affected 13.7% of households in 2024

Households experiencing food insecurity, United States, annually: 2018–2024.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, household food-security survey · American Default

American Default Research

USDA announced an end to future household food-security reports

USDA announced on September 20, 2025 that it would terminate future Household Food Security Reports. The latest national survey results describe 2024.

The latest food-insecurity survey describes 2024; SNAP participation describes July 2026.

Groceries cost 31.87% more than in January 2020

Grocery prices were 31.87% above their January 2020 level in September 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This calculation tracks cumulative change in the food-at-home consumer price index, which covers food bought for eating at home.

A slower annual inflation rate means prices rise more slowly; it does not mean earlier increases have reversed. The cumulative measure keeps the pre-pandemic starting point visible.

Packages of ground beef on refrigerated grocery-store shelves. — Ground beef on a grocery-store shelf in Fairfax, Virginia, photographed in March 2011. SNAP benefits can pay for meat and other groceries. Photo: Lance Cheung / USDA · Public domain.

Groceries cost 31.87% more than in January 2020

Cumulative food-at-home price change since January 2020, United States: December 2025–September 2026.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics food-at-home CPI, seasonally adjusted, data retrieved via FRED; American Default Research calculation · American Default

American Default Research

The chart shows the uninterrupted recent run after the federal shutdown interrupted price collection. The full history remains below, with its gap preserved.

All-food prices and average earnings cover broader populations

Food prices rose 2.45% over the year through September 2026 in the broader food CPI. It includes groceries and restaurant meals. It is not a grocery-only rate.

Average hourly earnings for private-sector jobs grew about 3.02% over the same period. Earnings growth minus food inflation was 0.6 percentage points in September 2026.

The pay figure averages payroll earnings across private-sector jobs. It does not estimate SNAP recipients’ wages, household income or the amount left for groceries after housing and other expenses.

The histories cover different periods and populations

SNAP contains fiscal-year averages followed by monthly counts; food insecurity contains annual household survey estimates; food prices and earnings contain monthly economic data. Each table retains its own period and unit.

Every CPI figure and historical comparison on this page uses its source-owned basis: Year-over-year percent change computed from the seasonally adjusted BLS Food CPI (CUSR0000SAF1); seasonally adjusted values may be revised; Cumulative percent change since January 2020 computed from the seasonally adjusted BLS Food-at-Home CPI (CUSR0000SAF11); seasonally adjusted values may be revised.

National SNAP participation history

Fiscal-year averages and monthly counts
Period	People receiving benefits (millions)	Period type
Fiscal year 2014	46.7	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2015	45.8	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2016	44.2	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2017	42.3	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2018	40.8	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2019	35.7	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2020	39.9	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2021	41.6	Fiscal-year average
Fiscal year 2022	41.2	Fiscal-year average
October 2022	42.34	Monthly count
November 2022	42.4	Monthly count
December 2022	42.69	Monthly count
January 2023	42.77	Monthly count
February 2023	42.6	Monthly count
March 2023	42.43	Monthly count
April 2023	41.91	Monthly count
May 2023	42	Monthly count
June 2023	41.93	Monthly count
July 2023	41.4	Monthly count
August 2023	42.01	Monthly count
September 2023	41.65	Monthly count
October 2023	41.71	Monthly count
November 2023	41.45	Monthly count
December 2023	41.34	Monthly count
January 2024	41.28	Monthly count
February 2024	41.26	Monthly count
March 2024	41.57	Monthly count
April 2024	41.61	Monthly count
May 2024	41.8	Monthly count
June 2024	41.87	Monthly count
July 2024	42.03	Monthly count
August 2024	42.27	Monthly count
September 2024	42.32	Monthly count
October 2024	43.25	Monthly count
November 2024	43.01	Monthly count
December 2024	42.96	Monthly count
January 2025	42.41	Monthly count
February 2025	42.18	Monthly count
March 2025	42.19	Monthly count
April 2025	41.95	Monthly count
May 2025	41.84	Monthly count
June 2025	41.67	Monthly count
July 2025	41.6	Monthly count
August 2025	41.42	Monthly count
September 2025	41.21	Monthly count
October 2025	40.67	Monthly count
November 2025	40	Monthly count
December 2025	39.21	Monthly count
January 2026	38.55	Monthly count
February 2026	37.95	Monthly count
March 2026	37.53	Monthly count
April 2026	37.11	Monthly count
May 2026	36.73	Monthly count
June 2026	36.52	Monthly count
July 2026	36.09	Monthly count

Fiscal-year entries represent average monthly participation from October through September. Preliminary months and earlier figures may be revised.

State SNAP recipients and participating households

The complete state history contains monthly recipients and participating households. A household can include more than one recipient. Historical cost fields are omitted because their source columns changed meaning across workbook editions.

State SNAP counts as CSV

Household food insecurity history

Household food insecurity history
Period	Households experiencing food insecurity (%)
2018	11.1
2019	10.5
2020	10.5
2021	10.2
2022	12.8
2023	13.5
2024	13.7

These annual survey estimates describe the full year. Small numerical differences can occur without a statistically significant change.

Household food insecurity history as CSV

Grocery prices since the baseline

Grocery prices since the baseline
Period	Food-at-home price change from baseline (%)
January 2019	−0.79
February 2019	−0.57
March 2019	−0.42
April 2019	−0.94
May 2019	−0.77
June 2019	−0.94
July 2019	−1.04
August 2019	−1.05
September 2019	−0.86
October 2019	−0.62
November 2019	−0.32
December 2019	−0.26
January 2020	0
February 2020	0.28
March 2020	0.62
April 2020	3.1
May 2020	3.99
June 2020	4.58
July 2020	3.49
August 2020	3.55
September 2020	3.14
October 2020	3.34
November 2020	3.23
December 2020	3.71
January 2021	3.71
February 2021	3.82
March 2021	3.87
April 2021	4.36
May 2021	4.74
June 2021	5.56
July 2021	6.15
August 2021	6.61
September 2021	7.78
October 2021	8.86
November 2021	9.84
December 2021	10.46
January 2022	11.36
February 2022	12.82
March 2022	14.3
April 2022	15.64
May 2022	17.25
June 2022	18.5
July 2022	20.1
August 2022	21.1
September 2022	21.72
October 2022	22.36
November 2022	22.97
December 2022	23.43
January 2023	23.89
February 2023	24.2
March 2023	23.8
April 2023	23.94
May 2023	24.09
June 2023	24.04
July 2023	24.42
August 2023	24.69
September 2023	24.61
October 2023	24.99
November 2023	24.98
December 2023	25.05
January 2024	25.33
February 2024	25.43
March 2024	25.26
April 2024	25.4
May 2024	25.42
June 2024	25.49
July 2024	25.78
August 2024	25.83
September 2024	26.18
October 2024	26.43
November 2024	26.93
December 2024	27.21
January 2025	27.64
February 2025	27.7
March 2025	28.19
April 2025	27.9
May 2025	28.25
June 2025	28.53
July 2025	28.55
August 2025	29.21
September 2025	29.58
November 2025	29.36
December 2025	30.17
January 2026	30.42
February 2026	30.99
March 2026	30.78
April 2026	31.67
May 2026	31.75
June 2026	32
July 2026	31.91
August 2026	31.96
September 2026	31.87

The baseline is January 2020. Earlier prices are compared with that later baseline. The source has a gap during the federal shutdown; no observation is interpolated.

Grocery prices since the baseline as CSV

Annual food price inflation

Annual food price inflation
Period	All-food price change from a year earlier (%)
January 2001	2.84
February 2001	3.01
March 2001	3.12
April 2001	3.24
May 2001	3.05
June 2001	3.41
July 2001	3.15
August 2001	3.14
September 2001	3.14
October 2001	3.43
November 2001	3.37
December 2001	2.76
January 2002	2.94
February 2002	2.63
March 2002	2.56
April 2002	2.5
May 2002	1.97
June 2002	1.62
July 2002	1.44
August 2002	1.21
September 2002	1.32
October 2002	0.92
November 2002	1.14
December 2002	1.37
January 2003	1.03
February 2003	1.37
March 2003	1.31
April 2003	1.19
May 2003	1.71
June 2003	2.16
July 2003	2.1
August 2003	2.5
September 2003	2.49
October 2003	2.95
November 2003	3.22
December 2003	3.61
January 2004	3.56
February 2004	3.26
March 2004	3.25
April 2004	3.42
May 2004	4.08
June 2004	3.73
July 2004	3.89
August 2004	3.6
September 2004	3.32
October 2004	3.41
November 2004	3.18
December 2004	2.67
January 2005	2.89
February 2005	2.56
March 2005	2.66
April 2005	3.14
May 2005	2.42
June 2005	2.2
July 2005	2.19
August 2005	2.19
September 2005	2.46
October 2005	2.24
November 2005	2.23
December 2005	2.39
January 2006	2.6
February 2006	2.7
March 2006	2.59
April 2006	1.79
May 2006	1.84
June 2006	2.2
July 2006	2.25
August 2006	2.41
September 2006	2.51
October 2006	2.55
November 2006	2.28
December 2006	2.18
January 2007	2.47
February 2007	3.12
March 2007	3.32
April 2007	3.69
May 2007	3.93
June 2007	4.04
July 2007	4.11
August 2007	4.25
September 2007	4.43
October 2007	4.44
November 2007	4.82
December 2007	4.96
January 2008	4.91
February 2008	4.59
March 2008	4.44
April 2008	5.06
May 2008	5.1
June 2008	5.32
July 2008	6
August 2008	6.14
September 2008	6.23
October 2008	6.33
November 2008	6.09
December 2008	5.9
January 2009	5.34
February 2009	4.81
March 2009	4.39
April 2009	3.34
May 2009	2.73
June 2009	2.1
July 2009	0.91
August 2009	0.39
September 2009	−0.23
October 2009	−0.56
November 2009	−0.68
December 2009	−0.53
January 2010	−0.34
February 2010	−0.18
March 2010	0.22
April 2010	0.47
May 2010	0.7
June 2010	0.68
July 2010	0.85
August 2010	0.97
September 2010	1.36
October 2010	1.41
November 2010	1.55
December 2010	1.52
January 2011	1.82
February 2011	2.27
March 2011	2.84
April 2011	3.13
May 2011	3.47
June 2011	3.75
July 2011	4.22
August 2011	4.63
September 2011	4.75
October 2011	4.71
November 2011	4.6
December 2011	4.68
January 2012	4.38
February 2012	3.86
March 2012	3.28
April 2012	3.08
May 2012	2.77
June 2012	2.71
July 2012	2.35
August 2012	2.01
September 2012	1.61
October 2012	1.71
November 2012	1.79
December 2012	1.78
January 2013	1.64
February 2013	1.66
March 2013	1.56
April 2013	1.55
May 2013	1.39
June 2013	1.41
July 2013	1.43
August 2013	1.37
September 2013	1.33
October 2013	1.24
November 2013	1.15
December 2013	1.06
January 2014	1.05
February 2014	1.45
March 2014	1.79
April 2014	1.94
May 2014	2.52
June 2014	2.39
July 2014	2.55
August 2014	2.67
September 2014	2.93
October 2014	2.99
November 2014	3.13
December 2014	3.38
January 2015	3.23
February 2015	2.96
March 2015	2.34
April 2015	1.97
May 2015	1.58
June 2015	1.77
July 2015	1.61
August 2015	1.62
September 2015	1.64
October 2015	1.59
November 2015	1.28
December 2015	0.8
January 2016	0.88
February 2016	0.86
March 2016	0.8
April 2016	0.91
May 2016	0.66
June 2016	0.3
July 2016	0.2
August 2016	0
September 2016	−0.29
October 2016	−0.38
November 2016	−0.32
December 2016	−0.19
January 2017	−0.12
February 2017	0.05
March 2017	0.49
April 2017	0.55
May 2017	0.85
June 2017	0.84
July 2017	1.02
August 2017	1.1
September 2017	1.23
October 2017	1.31
November 2017	1.39
December 2017	1.61
January 2018	1.74
February 2018	1.42
March 2018	1.25
April 2018	1.31
May 2018	1.16
June 2018	1.36
July 2018	1.36
August 2018	1.39
September 2018	1.39
October 2018	1.24
November 2018	1.47
December 2018	1.65
January 2019	1.65
February 2019	1.98
March 2019	2.11
April 2019	1.76
May 2019	1.96
June 2019	1.89
July 2019	1.76
August 2019	1.71
September 2019	1.79
October 2019	2.07
November 2019	2.02
December 2019	1.8
January 2020	1.86
February 2020	1.83
March 2020	1.92
April 2020	3.52
May 2020	3.98
June 2020	4.5
July 2020	4.06
August 2020	4.13
September 2020	3.93
October 2020	3.94
November 2020	3.69
December 2020	3.95
January 2021	3.79
February 2021	3.61
March 2021	3.43
April 2021	2.38
May 2021	2.18
June 2021	2.39
July 2021	3.46
August 2021	3.74
September 2021	4.58
October 2021	5.31
November 2021	6.12
December 2021	6.29
January 2022	6.96
February 2022	7.91
March 2022	8.8
April 2022	9.4
May 2022	10.16
June 2022	10.45
July 2022	10.94
August 2022	11.39
September 2022	11.21
October 2022	10.94
November 2022	10.65
December 2022	10.42
January 2023	10.07
February 2023	9.44
March 2023	8.46
April 2023	7.67
May 2023	6.71
June 2023	5.75
July 2023	4.87
August 2023	4.26
September 2023	3.67
October 2023	3.3
November 2023	2.94
December 2023	2.71
January 2024	2.54
February 2024	2.23
March 2024	2.25
April 2024	2.25
May 2024	2.16
June 2024	2.24
July 2024	2.21
August 2024	2.07
September 2024	2.27
October 2024	2.16
November 2024	2.36
December 2024	2.46
January 2025	2.45
February 2025	2.55
March 2025	2.92
April 2025	2.75
May 2025	2.9
June 2025	2.99
July 2025	2.89
August 2025	3.2
September 2025	3.11
November 2025	2.62
December 2025	3.04
January 2026	2.93
February 2026	3.14
March 2026	2.75
April 2026	3.22
May 2026	3.08
June 2026	2.99
July 2026	2.94
August 2026	2.63
September 2026	2.45

All food includes groceries and restaurant meals. The source has a gap during the federal shutdown; no observation is interpolated.

Annual food price inflation as CSV

Average hourly earnings growth minus food inflation

Average hourly earnings growth minus food inflation
Period	Earnings growth minus food inflation (percentage points)
March 2007	0.08
April 2007	−0.62
May 2007	−0.41
June 2007	−0.43
July 2007	−0.91
August 2007	−0.9
September 2007	−1.3
October 2007	−1.31
November 2007	−1.74
December 2007	−2.14
January 2008	−2
February 2008	−1.74
March 2008	−1.35
April 2008	−2.23
May 2008	−2.07
June 2008	−2.6
July 2008	−2.85
August 2008	−2.8
September 2008	−2.95
October 2008	−3.01
November 2008	−2.59
December 2008	−2.16
January 2009	−1.7
February 2009	−1.47
March 2009	−1.16
April 2009	0.03
May 2009	0.29
June 2009	0.78
July 2009	1.78
August 2009	2.05
September 2009	2.72
October 2009	3.08
November 2009	2.88
December 2009	2.45
January 2010	2.34
February 2010	2.37
March 2010	1.64
April 2010	1.29
May 2010	1.07
June 2010	1.09
July 2010	1
August 2010	0.79
September 2010	0.43
October 2010	0.47
November 2010	0.2
December 2010	0.22
January 2011	0.28
February 2011	−0.44
March 2011	−1.02
April 2011	−1.26
May 2011	−1.43
June 2011	−1.67
July 2011	−1.92
August 2011	−2.68
September 2011	−2.81
October 2011	−2.73
November 2011	−2.58
December 2011	−2.65
January 2012	−2.67
February 2012	−2.07
March 2012	−1.13
April 2012	−0.99
May 2012	−0.85
June 2012	−0.71
July 2012	−0.7
August 2012	−0.19
September 2012	0.38
October 2012	−0.07
November 2012	0.11
December 2012	0.37
January 2013	0.43
February 2013	0.49
March 2013	0.33
April 2013	0.5
May 2013	0.66
June 2013	0.72
July 2013	0.66
August 2013	0.93
September 2013	0.75
October 2013	1.01
November 2013	1.1
December 2013	0.88
January 2014	0.97
February 2014	0.87
March 2014	0.35
April 2014	0.03
May 2014	−0.38
June 2014	−0.3
July 2014	−0.47
August 2014	−0.51
September 2014	−0.85
October 2014	−0.92
November 2014	−1.06
December 2014	−1.52
January 2015	−1.08
February 2015	−1.07
March 2015	−0.12
April 2015	0.29
May 2015	0.76
June 2015	0.32
July 2015	0.55
August 2015	0.66
September 2015	0.6
October 2015	0.89
November 2015	1.12
December 2015	1.72
January 2016	1.67
February 2016	1.52
March 2016	1.62
April 2016	1.66
May 2016	1.79
June 2016	2.3
July 2016	2.52
August 2016	2.43
September 2016	2.92
October 2016	3.16
November 2016	2.89
December 2016	2.89
January 2017	2.6
February 2017	2.67
March 2017	2.1
April 2017	2
May 2017	1.61
June 2017	1.66
July 2017	1.55
August 2017	1.47
September 2017	1.56
October 2017	1.01
November 2017	1.08
December 2017	1.09
January 2018	1.03
February 2018	1.15
March 2018	1.58
April 2018	1.48
May 2018	1.78
June 2018	1.57
July 2018	1.48
August 2018	1.8
September 2018	1.75
October 2018	2.04
November 2018	1.92
December 2018	1.84
January 2019	1.61
February 2019	1.58
March 2019	1.32
April 2019	1.51
May 2019	1.38
June 2019	1.59
July 2019	1.67
August 2019	1.71
September 2019	1.28
October 2019	1.11
November 2019	1.26
December 2019	1.18
January 2020	1.19
February 2020	1.24
March 2020	1.54
April 2020	4.58
May 2020	2.62
June 2020	0.54
July 2020	0.79
August 2020	0.67
September 2020	0.86
October 2020	0.66
November 2020	0.9
December 2020	1.44
January 2021	1.49
February 2021	1.68
March 2021	1.09
April 2021	−1.78
May 2021	0.14
June 2021	1.56
July 2021	0.87
August 2021	0.64
September 2021	0.4
October 2021	0.11
November 2021	−0.76
December 2021	−1.34
January 2022	−1.38
February 2022	−2.62
March 2022	−2.91
April 2022	−3.64
May 2022	−4.6
June 2022	−5.05
July 2022	−5.46
August 2022	−6
September 2022	−6.08
October 2022	−5.93
November 2022	−5.56
December 2022	−5.49
January 2023	−5.58
February 2023	−4.67
March 2023	−3.84
April 2023	−3.07
May 2023	−2.35
June 2023	−1.09
July 2023	−0.2
August 2023	0.21
September 2023	0.75
October 2023	0.92
November 2023	1.17
December 2023	1.39
January 2024	1.85
February 2024	1.9
March 2024	1.9
April 2024	1.73
May 2024	1.99
June 2024	1.67
July 2024	1.43
August 2024	1.86
September 2024	1.64
October 2024	1.89
November 2024	1.82
December 2024	1.62
January 2025	1.53
February 2025	1.56
March 2025	1.3
April 2025	1.16
May 2025	1.09
June 2025	0.86
July 2025	1.07
August 2025	0.78
September 2025	0.73
November 2025	1.31
December 2025	0.69
January 2026	0.72
February 2026	0.56
March 2026	0.69
April 2026	0.35
May 2026	0.26
June 2026	0.4
July 2026	0.27
August 2026	0.48
September 2026	0.57

A positive gap means average hourly earnings grew faster than all-food prices. This does not measure SNAP household income. The newest earnings data are preliminary.

Average hourly earnings growth minus food inflation as CSV

Questions about SNAP and food assistance

Are SNAP and food stamps the same program?

SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps. This page uses both names for the same federal food assistance program.

Who qualifies for SNAP?

SNAP eligibility depends on household income and other program rules. Under regular income rules, gross income is limited to 130% of the poverty level and net income after allowable deductions to 100%. A household with an elderly or disabled member faces the net income test only. State categorical eligibility policies can change income and resource tests; other program requirements also apply.

How many households receive SNAP?

The state and DC records counted 19.61 million participating households in July 2026. This excludes Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Household counts come from the same stored monthly records as the state recipient counts; the national headline counts people, a different unit.

Why do other sources report an annual SNAP count?

USDA reports fiscal-year averages as well as monthly counts. The fiscal-year 2022 average was 41.2 million people. A fiscal-year average combines monthly participation across a year, while this page’s headline describes July 2026.

What is the highest SNAP participation figure in the history?

The highest value in the series is 46.7 million in fiscal year 2014, an annual average. Monthly counts begin in October 2022. Annual averages and monthly counts describe different periods.

Does the state percentage show how many eligible people receive SNAP?

The state percentage divides recipients by the state’s full 2024 resident population. A participation rate among eligible people requires an estimate of how many people qualify, which is a different denominator.

Does lower SNAP participation mean less hunger?

Lower participation means fewer people were counted in households receiving benefits. Food insecurity is measured separately by a household survey, whose latest national results cover 2024; it does not establish the direction of food hardship in July 2026.

Why can monthly participation change sharply?

Benefit issuance timing can change a month’s administrative count. USDA’s workbook for fiscal year 2019 says most February benefits were issued in January during the partial federal shutdown, producing unusually high January benefits and low February benefits. The matched-month comparison here avoids those months.

Cite this 36.09 million people receiving SNAP, July 2026 · American Default Research, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture · americandefault.org/statistics/snap-food-assistance-statistics/

Sources and method

USDA SNAP program tables National and state participation use the USDA tables labelled “P-EBT/Other Excluded.” The participation footnote also excludes disaster supplement and replacement counts that are subsets of ongoing participation. Latest months are preliminary. USDA tables dated Sep 11, 2026. SNAP workbook archive
National and state coverage State and DC recipients total 36.03 million in July 2026. That is 52,763 below the national count for the same month. National coverage also includes Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. State changes compare the same month. Household totals on this page come from USDA’s monthly state tables and exclude the territories.
State reference populations State ratios divide SNAP recipients by Census resident population estimates for 2024. This fixed reference does not estimate eligibility or the exact population in the SNAP reporting month. Census population estimates
SNAP income eligibility Regular income tests use 130% of the poverty level for gross income and 100% for net income. Households with an elderly or disabled member face the net test only. Categorical eligibility can change the income and resource tests; nonfinancial rules also apply. USDA SNAP eligibility rules
Publication differences USDA’s monthly PDF and workbook can print different values for the same earlier month. Both versions checked for this page had the same data date. This page follows the USDA workbook throughout; the source material does not fully explain every difference.
Household food insecurity The annual household survey measures difficulty obtaining enough food at some point during a year, including households receiving SNAP and households that do not. USDA household food-security statistics
Future food-security reports USDA announced termination of future Household Food Security Reports on September 20, 2025. The latest national survey results describe 2024. USDA announcement
Food prices and earnings All price figures retain their source-owned measurement basis: Cumulative percent change since January 2020 computed from the seasonally adjusted BLS Food-at-Home CPI (CUSR0000SAF11); seasonally adjusted values may be revised; Year-over-year percent change computed from the seasonally adjusted BLS Food CPI (CUSR0000SAF1); seasonally adjusted values may be revised. Food at home covers groceries; all food also includes restaurant meals. The earnings comparison subtracts all-food inflation from average hourly earnings growth for private-sector employees. It is an American Default Research calculation, not a BLS household affordability measure. BLS consumer price indexes

We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.