Joint Statement by the Coalition for Food Security Puerto Rico, National Organizations and Stakeholder Groups in Support of Transitioning Puerto Rico to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Puerto Rico is home to U.S. citizens who deserve participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The 2023 Farm Bill provides the opportunity to transition Puerto Rico into SNAP and finally afford people residing in the territory parity to nutrition benefits offered in the states, Guam and USVI.
SNAP is the most critical anti-hunger program supporting nutrition, health, and economic well-being. Yet, people living in Puerto Rico were excluded from the program in 1981 and locked into a capped federal block grant known as the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). Over the past forty years, Puerto Rico's exclusion from the program has exacerbated poverty and food insecurity for low-income families, children, the elderly, and veterans. When implemented, the transition resulted in an automatic 25% reduction in aid.
Currently, the maximum monthly benefit for people receiving NAP in Puerto Rico averages 41 percent less than SNAP in the 48 states and D.C. With inflation, food supply chain challenges, and increasing poverty, families are facing even greater hardships.
The block grant severely limits Puerto Rico's ability to respond to necessary changes. NAP has no equivalent to Disaster-SNAP, so disasters or emergencies require new and separate appropriations by Congress, which can take months. Following Hurricane Maria in September 2017, people in Puerto Rico waited six months to receive additional nutrition aid.
Since NAP is not need-based like SNAP, U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico receive uneven benefits as enrollment levels go up or down. Given reduced funding, NAP has stricter eligibility requirements, so people have lower income levels than those in the states. People receiving NAP make hard decisions about food, nutrition, health, and housing every day. SNAP provides essential support to workers in low-income jobs as they seek employment and financial security for their families.
Nearly one in three NAP households in Puerto Rico is a person aged 60 or older, and 56% of all households are people living alone. Families with children, older adults, children, the working poor, and persons with disabilities represent 80% of all NAP households. Right now, a single-person household receives $1.83 per meal at the maximum monthly benefit, and many people receive even lower monthly benefits.
The nutrition aid provided to Puerto Rico helps the U.S. economy with 75% of imported food purchased from the U.S. Puerto Rico's purchases greatly support U.S. manufacturing, distribution, farming, and transportation. Puerto Rico's executive and legislative branches of government are already committed and preparing for a SNAP transition.
The 2023 Farm Bill presents Congress with the opportunity to include Puerto Rico in SNAP through a systemic transition that provides equitable nutrition benefits to its residents. We ask you to support Puerto Rico’s participation in SNAP.