ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) delivered around $6.5 billion in food assistance in 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday. A federally funded program, SNAP helps families with children, older adults and those with disabilities throughout the state afford healthy food.
“No New Yorker should ever go hungry, and no parent or caregiver should have to choose between buying groceries or keeping the lights on,” Hochul said.
According to a press release from the state, about 18% of New York’s population received SNAP benefits in 2024; that's nearly 3 million New Yorkers. More than half of the receiving households included families with children and around 47% included an adult over the age of 55 or a person with a disability.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase designated products at authorized retail food stores. The average participating household receives about $376 in SNAP benefits per month.
“Children who live in food-insecure households are more likely than their peers to have health problems and difficulty in school,” said Barbara C. Guinn, commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (ODTA). “SNAP is New York State’s primary tool to help us fight hunger and food insecurity and helps millions of New Yorkers — including working families, families with children, and seniors — afford to purchase healthy food.”
New York has worked to expand SNAP in recent years by eliminating unnecessary requirements, simplifying the application process and increasing community outreach. As the new year begins, officials stress their dedication to supporting low-income families and households.
"As we enter the new year, I am committed to continuing to fight for funding for food assistance programs to make sure that all New Yorkers have the resources they need to put food on the table,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said.
New Yorkers can learn more about and apply for SNAP benefits on the ODTA website.
