Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Assistance Snap topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County food office warns HR1 and shutdown will shrink SNAP supports; SNAP‑Ed elimination, new work rules and state cost shifts cited
Summary
The county Office of Food Systems Resilience briefed the council that federal changes and a government shutdown are reducing SNAP benefit value and eligibility, ending SNAP‑Ed funding and shifting administrative costs to the state—creating immediate stresses for residents and local food providers.
Montgomery County’s Office of Food Systems Resilience told the County Council on Oct. 14 that recent federal actions—summarized as HR 1—and a partial federal shutdown are already reducing food assistance for residents and increasing operational strains on the local network that delivers food and nutrition services.
Director Heather Bruskin outlined three main impact areas: smaller benefit amounts for many households, tighter eligibility and work requirements for SNAP, and higher administrative costs for states and local partners. She said the county is monitoring multiple metrics and working with community partners to mitigate impacts.
Key changes and local effects described by staff: - Benefit value and deductions: USDA changes removed the standard utility deduction for most households (except those with older adults or people with disabilities). Bruskin said about 118,000 SNAP participants in Maryland benefited from the standard utility allotment that is now removed for most households. The Thrifty Food Plan indexing changes also reduce benefit responsiveness to recent food‑price increases. - SNAP‑Ed elimination: HR 1 eliminated SNAP‑Ed funding (nutrition education) as of Sept. 30; the University of Maryland found carryover funds to continue the program through February in some areas. Montgomery County’s SNAP‑Ed activity was roughly $700,000 per year; county staff said SNAP‑Ed provided nutrition education, smart shopping and cooking programs across 46 local sites and is an important gateway to other services. - Eligibility and work requirements: Able‑bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) rules were expanded—ages subject to the requirement increased (county staff said the age cap moved toward 64 in the new guidance), and the dependent‑age threshold was lowered from 18 to 14 in some cases. USDA guidance sets a Nov. 1 effective date for some changes; recertification timing will determine when households are affected. - Noncitizen eligibility: Refugees, those with asylum and humanitarian parole are no longer eligible for SNAP under the federal change; staff highlighted this will affect certain immigrant and refugee families. - State cost shifts: Administration and benefit‑cost shifts will increase state responsibilities for SNAP. Bruskin summarized modeling provided by the state showing potentially tens of millions in new costs (staff cited roughly $58 million per year for administrative cost shifts beginning in FY27 and a possible $223 million exposure tied to benefit cost sharing in FY28 depending on error rates).
Local numbers and programs: Montgomery County staff said SNAP purchases in the county total roughly $12 million per month; MC Groceries and Food‑is‑Medicine programs provide targeted grocery support and delivery to families. Bruskin said the county has a network of about 60 food‑assistance grantees and is beginning a pulse survey and a provider census to track changing demand and supply. County nutrition outreach grants ($300,000 total this cycle) were retooled to broaden eligibility and maintain touch points for enrollment assistance.
Council questions and next steps: Councilmembers asked about outreach and paperwork assistance; staff noted partnerships with the county Office of Eligibility and Support Services, school meal programs and community organizations. Several councilmembers urged proactive communication to residents and asked that county staff include council and constituent‑services teams in trainings so front‑line staff can refer residents to the right help.
Why this matters: County staff said the combined effect of benefit changes, SNAP‑Ed elimination and a federal shutdown will reduce food dollars in local stores, raise food prices for families and increase demand at food banks and nonprofit providers—many of which already face capacity and funding constraints. The council signaled it will convene further briefings and consider targeted county responses if the federal situation continues.
