Food Stamps Cut Begins Friday

Poor families across the country will have smaller food budgets beginning Friday, as stimulus funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) automatically expires. The 13.6 percent boost in SNAP benefits the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act instituted in April 2009 ends Nov. 1.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities discovered that the cut will amount to$29 per month less for an average family of three. They will be left with $319 per year or $1.40 per person per meal, based on cost estimates from the Department of Agriculture's "Thrifty Food Plan."

Every SNAP recipient will experience reduced benefits because the funding increase came from federal dollars. The CBPP says ending the additional funding will ultimately save the government $5 billion in 2014.

The 41 members of the Senate and House Farm Bill conference committee will meet Wednesday to discuss future cuts to SNAP.