The Impact of CalFresh (SNAP) Emergency Allotments

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, what started as a health crisis quickly became an economic and hunger catastrophe. With schools shuttered, layoffs rippling through our communities, and the entire state coming to a standstill, millions of Californians found themselves without a way to put food on the table. Within days of stay-at-home orders being enacted, food banks were setting up new and expanded programs to respond to an unprecedented demand.

While CAFB worked closely with the state to get food boxes on the road, Congress, under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership, acted immediately to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, allowing states to issue “Emergency Allotments (EAs)” that increased SNAP / CalFresh benefits up to the maximum benefit level for a household size. 

California moved quickly to implement CalFresh EAs starting in March 2020, and subsequently every month until March 2023 when they ended Federally – benefitting more than 3 million households. In 2021 alone, EAs helped Californians purchase 1.32 billion meals, or approximately 14% of the meals provided through all public and private food assistance programs in the state combined. Over the course of three years, EAs totaled approximately $14 billion in federally funded food benefits.

The team at the California Association of Food Banks wanted to truly understand the impact of  EAs on Californians as well as the impact of their subsequent end. We conducted a mixed-methods study to find out and published a policy brief summarizing the findings and calling for proven solutions.

Here’s What We Learned

EAs Substantially Boosted CalFresh Benefits for All Households

In February 2023, CalFresh households received around $180 in EAs on average. The larger the household, the more in EAs they received. Of households enrolled in CalFresh that were already at the maximum benefit level for their household size received an EA of $95 per month. All other households received EAs equivalent to the amount needed to bring them to the maximum (or $95, whichever was more). 

Key Findings on the impacts of EAs

• More and greater variety of food. Households were able to purchase more and a greater variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and high quality food to meet their dietary needs.

• EAs helped households weather income fluctuations. When CalFresh households experienced income losses, either from the pandemic or another reason, EAs enabled them to keep putting food on the table until they got back on their feet.

• EAs had a stabilizing effect on households. CalFresh households were better able to stay current on rent and bills and make progress toward financial stability because EAs helped cover the cost of food.

“It was a tremendous, huge weight off my shoulder, because I was actually getting groceries and I was getting a healthy meal, and stuff that I find difficult to get on a normal basis.”

– CalFresh Recipient

The End of EAs Caused Hunger & Toxic Stress for CalFresh Households

With the signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, EAs were untethered from the Federal Public Health Emergency status and brought to a premature end. In California, this meant SNAP/CalFresh households received their last EA on March 26, 2023, after which their benefits dropped by 32-40%. This happened at the same time that food prices in the Western United States were 8% higher the previous year and the costs of transportation, housing, and other goods had been skyrocketing. 

Key Findings on how households are faring after EAs ended

• Experiences of food insecurity have intensified. People are buying and eating less than what they need and relying on cheaper processed foods. Those with children or special dietary considerations are especially struggling.

• Households are making tradeoffs between food and other expenses. Inflation has driven up the cost of living such that despite cutting back on food, some households are still unable to make rent or afford clothing or school supplies for their children. Many are falling behind on bills and accumulating debt.

• Physical and mental health have declined. Poor diets, chronic stress, and going without basic needs have led to worsening health and wellbeing. People report frequent experiences of sadness, worry, and depression since EAs ended.

• Shopping patterns changed, impacting local economies. CalFresh households are shopping less because they have less money not only for food but also for gas and other goods. Accounting for the stimulating effect that CalFresh has on the greater economy, the total value of EAs lost approximately $1 billion statewide.

“My biggest expenses right now is all my money goes to the utilities, gas and light. I don’t have money to get school clothes for my kids, and school shoes. Like, everything is going to the utilities and not towards the day to day needs.”

– CalFresh Recipient

Hunger in California Is On the Rise, Again 

It is no surprise that as soon as EAs ended, food banks began seeing the impact in their communities.  In 2023 CAFB fielded two “pulse” surveys on the needs food banks were responding to in their communities. Through these surveys, which asked about April and July 2023 respectively, we learned that:

• In both months, the vast majority (88%) of food banks that responded had received more calls from community members seeking food, compared with the preceding months.
• In July, over two thirds (68%) of food banks served more people compared to prior months. This is striking given that July and August are typically slower for many food banks.
• To cope with increased demands, 75% of food banks have had to increase fundraising, and 69% have had to use a disproportionate percentage of their budgets to supply food for their communities.

The latest data from the Census Household Pulse Survey shows that nearly 1 in 4 households in California are facing food insecurity today, while nearly 1 in 3 households with children are food insecure. Communities of color – Black and Latine households in particular – are facing deep and disproportionate impacts. These rates are comparable to those in 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic:

Policy Solutions to Prevent Hunger

Our following recommendations include Federal and State policies that are key to making permanent progress on the hunger-fighting power of SNAP/CalFresh:

Improve benefit adequacy:

• The Closing the Meal Gap Act (H.R. 3037 Adams / S. 1336 Gillibrand) 
• The Hot Foods Act (H.R. 3519 Meng, Fitzpatrick / S. 2258 Bennet) 
• Permanently improve the minimum CalFresh benefit for all households to at least $50 per month, as proposed in SB 600 (Menjivar)

Expand eligibility and end exclusionary rules:

• Enhanced Access to SNAP Act (EATS Act) (H.R. 3183 Gomez / S. 1488 Gillibrand) 
• Improving Access to Nutrition Act (H.R. 1510 Lee / S. 2435 Welch)
• The Lift the Bar Act (H.R. 4170 Jayapal / S. 2038 Hirono)
• The Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources & Essentials (RESTORE Act) (H.R. 3479 Cohen / S. 1753 Booker)

Bolster the emergency food network:

• The Farmers Feeding America Act (H.R. 6203 Salinas, Panetta / S. 2713 Casey)
• Permanently increase annual state funding for the CalFood program to at least $60 million

Here’s How You Can Help

Hunger is a policy choice and a solvable problem, but it takes the support and will of us all. Joins us as we work toward a hunger-free California:

Ask your Member of Congress to co-sponsor federal bills listed above

• Find your Federal representatives
• Advocacy resources

Ask your State Senator and Assemblymember to support policies and investments to end hunger

• Those listed above and more here
• Find your State representatives

Support your local Food Bank: Donate or volunteer!

• Find your local food bank

*”In February 2023, CalFresh households received around $180 in EAs on average” was edited on December 14, 2023 to reflect newly available data from CDSS, the original number said $252.