AARP Hearing Center
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest antihunger program and a critical basic-needs program for people of all ages with low incomes, including millions of adults ages 50 and older and people with disabilities. The program provides eligible individuals and families with a modest monthly benefit to purchase groceries at stores and farmers markets. Under current rules, the federal government covers the cost of SNAP benefits, and states share in the administrative costs. Read the full report.
Key takeaways:
- SNAP provides essential food benefits to millions of Americans with low incomes, including more than 11 million adults ages 50 and older.
- SNAP reduces food insecurity and poverty, with previous AARP research finding the program lifted 2 million adults ages 50 years and older out of poverty in 2022.
- The program is associated with better health outcomes and lower health care costs among older adults.
- SNAP eligibility, and the benefit amount households receive, depend on household size and composition, income, and, in some states, assets.
Some text elements of this page were created with AI assistance and have been reviewed and edited for accuracy by staff.
MORE FROM AARP
Data Visualization: Food Insecurity and SNAP Enrollment Among Older Adults
In 2023, 12.6 million (or about 1 in 10) Americans ages 50 and older experienced food insecurity, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to adequate, nutritious food. Food insecurity prevalence rose in 2022 and 2023, following years of decline. Factors like high food prices and the end of pandemic-related benefits may have played a role. At the state level, food insecurity prevalence varies widely and has also changed over time.
16 Million Eligible Adults Ages 50 and Older Are Not Enrolled in SNAP
This paper is focused on understanding who is not enrolling in SNAP despite being eligible— what we call “eligible nonparticipants”—which is important for addressing low program enrollment. We estimate the number and share of SNAP-eligible nonparticipants ages 50 and older, examine their economic and demographic characteristics, and discuss policy implications based on the findings.
Do SNAP Eligibility and Benefit Determinations Sufficiently Reflect Expenses of Older Households?
In this report, we evaluate whether SNAP eligibility assessments meet the needs and reflect the circumstances of low-income households with adults ages 50 and older by examining household spending to determine whether the assessments adequately account for housing, health care, and work-related costs, as well as other expenses.