More than a million veterans face food insecurity each year. While many are eligible for federal food assistance programs, they are less likely than others to participate.Â
Todayâs WatchBlog post looks at our new report on why, and the efforts to reach out to them.Â
Estimated Percentage of Veterans in Households Receiving SNAP Benefits, 2024
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Why veterans might not apply for or receive SNAP
About 1.4 million veterans live in food-insecure householdsâmeaning they canât always afford enough food.Â
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)âwhich used to be called food stampsâhelps low-income people, including veterans, experiencing food insecurity. This program provides monthly benefits to buy food. But despite being eligible for the program, many veterans do not participate. Here are some reasons why.Â
Perceptions and misconceptions. Some people may not apply for SNAP because of personal pride or perceived stigma about receiving public assistance. This may be especially true for veterans, who were once relied on to help others and now need help themselves.  Â
Veterans also may have misconceptions about the program. For example, some think that they are not eligible for SNAP if they receive other benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Others may think that if they receive SNAP, they are taking this resource away from someone else.Â
Challenges when applying. When veterans do apply, they may face difficulty navigating the process. For example, the application questions are complicated and request personal information that can be burdensome to provide. One stateâs application is 12 pages long. Â
Homeless veterans face additional obstacles. Veterans experiencing homelessness may have difficulty accessing the application and providing the required documentation. If they donât receive mail or have regular access to the internet or a cell phone, they could miss notifications or follow-up communications. And states generally require SNAP recipients to maintain employment, which can be difficult for those experiencing homelessness.Â
Whatâs being done to improve outreach to veterans and participation?Â
Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP at the federal level, and the VA have taken action in recent years to improve outreach to veterans. Â
What is USDA doing? USDA previously encouraged states, which administer SNAP, to prioritize veterans in their outreach plans. USDA also helps pay for some of statesâ outreach costs. Â
What is the VA doing? Over the last decade, staff at VA medical centers have screened veterans for food insecurity. The VA also provides information about SNAP in two programs aimed at helping service members and newly separated veterans transition to civilian life. And the VA has partnered with food banks and other community organizations to spread awareness about the program. Â
What are states doing? State agencies collaborate with community organizations on outreach. We looked at these efforts and found that most states (47) had SNAP outreach plans. And, of these states, 39 (more than 80%) identified veterans as a target group for their outreach efforts.Â
What more could be done? USDA should work with the VA to develop outreach materials, such as brochures or talking points, tailored to veterans. Doing so could help address some of the perceptions and misconceptions that have prevented veterans from applying.Â
In addition, USDA and the VA should review their collaboration efforts, which slowed after recent staffing cuts at USDA. The USDA-VA working group hasnât met in over a year. While efforts are underway to reestablish this partnership, the departments can look for ways to improve it, including by incorporating leading practices into their collaboration efforts. Â
Be sure to check out our full report to learn more about why food insecure veterans may not participate in SNAP and our recommendations for improving outreach efforts.
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