New Jersey’s investment in food stamp benefits has paid off in multiple ways, reducing families’ stress, boosting revenue at grocery stores, and generating economic activity that surpasses taxpayer investment, according to a report released this week.
Researchers at Montclair State University sought to measure the impact of the state’s commitment of nearly $60 million from March 2023 through May 2025 to sustain a minimum food stamp benefit of $95 a week after the federal government reduced its contribution to the program, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
What they found is nearly 40,000 households a month benefitted from the extra state spending, many located in New Jersey’s more rural counties. Many of the recipients were single, female, spoke English, and worked outside the home, according to the report. The study was commissioned by the state Department of Human Services, which oversees the food stamp program.
Overall, this investment prompted some $33 million in direct spending and generated an estimated $93 million in economic activity over the two-year period, the Montclair university’s Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services found. Of those receiving the $95 monthly minimum food benefit , 8 in 10 said it was “very” or “extremely” important to their survival.
Thousands of NJ residents face food stamp cuts under new federal rules
Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha, who has warned of the impact other planned federal funding cuts could have on New Jersey’s food stamp system, called it a lifeline for families. In all, nearly 400,000 households receive food stamps here, with the average monthly benefit of $194.
“This report reinforces what we already know: SNAP helps people in need by improving access to nutritious food and easing financial strain. It also supports local economies by driving broader economic activity in communities,” Cha said in a statement.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill has called for the state to commit an extra $71 million in the coming fiscal year to cover the loss of federal support for administering the program, money that pays for county social service offices to enroll people in the program. Her budget proposal, which lawmakers must finalize by July 1, also includes $30.2 million to sustain the $95 minimum benefit.
“As food prices continue to rise, we’re glad to provide individuals and families with a monthly benefit that helps them stretch their dollars and meet their food needs throughout the month,” said Natasha Johnson, an assistant human services commissioner.
The Biden administration dialed back federal support for the food stamp program in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting officials in New Jersey and some other states to cover the gap starting in 2023.
Under President Trump, food stamp benefits were held up last fall during a lengthy government shutdown. While the program has since restarted, future funding cuts and new rules requiring many beneficiaries to document that they are working, volunteering, or in school are expected to force some 47,000 residents out of the program, Cha has warned.
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