A new Nebraska Appleseed report shows how Nebraska’s working families are strengthened by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Policies That Work: How the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Can Help Working Families,” provides an overview of the challenges many working Nebraska families face to pay for their basic needs, and illustrates how policy change to allow greater access to SNAP by low-income working families can improve their well being.
We know Nebraska is a good place for families, with strong schools, parks, and low crime rates. But, making Nebraska a good place for families also means that options are available to help people through difficult times. And times are hard for many. One in four working families in Nebraska is low-income, meaning they struggle to make ends meet in spite of working.
The report shows specifically how SNAP has been effective:
- It helps more than 174,000 people have access to nutritious food in Nebraska.
- Nearly 75 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children.
- More than one-quarter of participants are in households with seniors or people with disabilities.
- Using electronic EBT cards keeps fraud use very low.
The report also contains personal stories from Nebraskans who struggle with food security and suggests policy changes to SNAP requirements that could help the program better serve its intended purposes.
Take a look at the full report and see how we can make the SNAP program help strengthen more Nebraska families.