Trump Administration proposal threatens SNAP benefits for thousands of Hawaiʻi residents

The Trump Administration wants to change the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps. Specifically, the proposal would eliminate what's known as broad-based categorical eligibility, which is a waiver that 40 states use to qualify recipients for the program.

More than 14,000 Hawaiʻi residents could be affected by the proposed rule change.

“Seniors can be particularly harmed by this new rule,” said Daniela Kittinger, director of Anti-Hunger Initiatives with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice. “Right now, a lot of seniors are living on fixed incomes, but they might have assets like a retirement account or a home that they own. That would restrict their eligibility without this waiver.”

The proposed change could further have impacts on the local economy.

“SNAP is a really important economic stimulus,” said Kittinger. “There's been studies by previous administrations, within the United States Department of Agriculture, that have shown that, for every dollar in SNAP that's spent, there's a $1.89 in economic benefits.”

According to Hawaiʻi Appleseed, approximately $3.4 million a year in SNAP funding goes to local grocery stores and other food retailers across the state. Kittinger says the compound interest of losing that funding could be much greater.