Counties across North Carolina prepare for rising SNAP costs as food assistance concerns continue growing

North Carolina counties prepare for SNAP changes

Major changes to SNAP are forcing North Carolina counties to prepare for rising administrative costs and concerns about hunger among vulnerable residents, working families, and households needing food assistance.

The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act added stricter work requirements while shifting more financial responsibility for SNAP administration onto state governments and local counties throughout North Carolina.

More recipients must report work activity

Former foster youth, some veterans, and certain people experiencing homelessness must report at least 80 hours monthly through work, volunteering, or approved training programs to receive SNAP benefits.

The law also raised the work-requirement age limit to 64 from 54 unless recipients qualify for exemptions under updated federal food assistance rules directly affecting North Carolina households.

Researchers worry about vulnerable groups

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Lindsey Haynes-Maslow said vulnerable SNAP recipients may struggle to navigate new reporting requirements needed to keep federal food assistance support.

She highlighted concerns involving veterans without diagnosed disabilities, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness who may face difficulties documenting work hours consistently enough to maintain eligibility monthly.

Former foster youth lose earlier protections

Before this year, young adults who aged out of foster care at 18 could receive SNAP benefits until 24 without facing additional work-requirement restrictions under federal policy rules.

Those protections changed under the updated law, creating new reporting expectations for former foster youth who may already struggle with housing, transportation, employment stability, and consistent income opportunities.

Many SNAP recipients already hold jobs

Haynes-Maslow said many SNAP recipients already work when employment opportunities are available, often balancing low-wage positions or multiple part-time schedules while still needing food assistance to cover groceries.

She explained unpredictable work hours can create reporting difficulties because participants may struggle documenting employment activities, volunteer programs, or training participation required under updated federal eligibility rules monthly.

Agencies expect heavier workloads ahead

Haynes-Maslow also expressed concern about agencies handling increased workloads tied to reviewing work requirements, processing exemptions, and monitoring SNAP eligibility documentation across North Carolina counties and local offices.

She warned that the responsibilities will require more workers and administrative time, raising concerns about who will cover growing operational costs for agencies and county governments handling SNAP services.

SNAP enrollment already starts declining

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new work requirements could cause 2.4 million people nationally to lose SNAP benefits during an average month between 2025 and 2034.

North Carolina saw SNAP enrollment decline roughly 2% between December and March after the new work requirements took effect, based on figures discussed by state officials with legislators.

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State officials expect larger benefit losses

A North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services representative told legislators the agency expects about 90,000 adults to lose SNAP benefits under updated federal work rules.

That estimate reflects concerns around stricter work requirements as counties adjust to administrative changes connected to federal legislation affecting food assistance eligibility across North Carolina communities and households.

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North Carolina households rely heavily on SNAP

About 1.3 million people across roughly 676,000 North Carolina households received SNAP benefits during January, showing how widely families rely on food assistance for groceries and meals.

Many households qualify through income guidelines tied to federal poverty levels, while others receive eligibility through programs including Supplemental Security Income or Work First assistance in North Carolina.

Households gain broader eligibility access

Some North Carolina households qualify through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which allows household incomes between 130% and 200% of the federal poverty level under expanded SNAP guidelines for eligible families.

The upper household income limit under that category reaches about $66,000 yearly for a family of four, helping more households qualify during financial hardship periods and rising grocery costs.

Counties prepare for larger administrative demands

County governments must complete additional administrative work verifying employment requirements, increasing coordination between SNAP application staff and workers responsible for recertification interviews involving recipients seeking continued assistance benefits.

Wake County officials said employees are handling the added workload without hiring staff, despite responsibilities tied to explaining exemptions, conducting interviews, and reviewing required SNAP documentation for applicants.

Counties face major budget pressure ahead

Beginning in October, counties will shoulder 75% of SNAP administrative costs while the federal government covers only 25%, creating pressure for local budgets across North Carolina county offices.

Durham County budget director Keith Lane said increased SNAP administrative costs could add roughly $2 million to the county’s next budget as local obligations rise for officials.

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Food pantries expect growing community demand

Nonprofit organizations and food pantries across North Carolina expect more families to seek emergency food assistance as stricter SNAP requirements potentially reduce benefits for vulnerable residents and households.

Nourish Up CEO Tina Postel said the organization already experienced record-breaking demand during earlier SNAP disruptions and expects more people will need food assistance programs this year soon.

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What stands out more in North Carolina, the rising SNAP costs facing counties, or the growing food assistance concerns for vulnerable families? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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