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SNAP recipients waiting for full federal food aid payments are already struggling with food insecurity and will struggle to even make a holiday meal, according to a new study.
According to a Coupon Follow survey, 72% of SNAP recipients said they were worried they wouldn’t be able to buy enough food for themselves and their families this holiday season. USA TODAY investigated this investigation exclusively.
The findings are alarming, Clay Carey, senior trend analyst and retail expert at CouponFollow, told USA TODAY.
“A huge number of families are facing budget cuts, forcing them to either skip meals, go to food pantries, or decline to host for the holidays altogether,” he said. “The bottom line is that even if full benefits were reinstated tomorrow, the financial burden on many households would not go away overnight because this is a systemic problem, not a seasonal one.”
How do people refrain from holiday meals?
Here are some highlights of the research.
- 63% of respondents expect their holiday grocery budget to be lower, and 40% expect it to be even lower.
- With SNAP benefits suspended, 52% said they would use a food pantry or local food program during the holidays.
- 44% of respondents said they do not plan to host family or friends for a holiday meal.
- The average Thanksgiving holiday budget is $93, with 30% cooking a traditional meal and 28% cooking a simple or small meal. The average Christmas meal budget is $115, with 29% cooking a traditional meal and 33% considering simplifying or smaller meals.
- Survey respondents said the top ways they try to save money on holiday meals include taking advantage of shopping sales and coupons (61%), using food banks and pantries (33%), and skipping meals before or after to save money (25%).
- Respondents also said they would skip other things to save on holiday costs, including holiday extras like decorating (62%), entertaining family and friends (44%), and homemade desserts and baked goods (31%).
While SNAP recipients missed payments during the government shutdown and it’s still unclear when benefits will be fully restored, many people lined up at food pantries, restaurants offering free meals, and community members across the country joined together to buy groceries for neighbors in need.
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.
