With SNAP participation having reached all-time highs in the past few years, some critics claim that the program is growing out of control and needs to be slashed. But, in reality, SNAP’s recent growth is temporary and shows that the program is working as designed.
- As the economy has recovered, SNAP caseload growth has slowed dramatically. SNAP caseload growth began slowing at the end of 2010 and caseloads have remained essentially flat since peaking at nearly 48 million people late last year (see first graph).
- SNAP caseloads and spending are expected to fall in coming years as the economy improves. CBO predicts that SNAP spending will fall to 1995 levels as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2019 (see second graph). This decline reflects shrinking caseloads as well as the expiration in November of the Recovery Act’s temporary benefit boost, which will cut benefits for all SNAP participants.
- Because SNAP is projected to shrink as a share of the economy, it is not contributing to the nation’s long-term budget problems. Unlike health care programs and Social Security, there are no significant demographic or programmatic pressures that will cause SNAP costs to grow faster than the economy.