SNAP

They're feeling the effects of SNAP benefit cuts and the increasing cost of health insurance.

On "Florida Matters: Live & Local," we talk about the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office cheating scandal, SNAP benefits that haven't come and an author whose books are heavy on history.

About 1 in 8 U.S. residents get an average of $187 a month per person in the food assistance known as SNAP. For the first time, the Trump administration stopped the payments due at the beginning of the month.

There are food banks and pantries throughout the state, including mobile pantries for those unable to travel. And many financial institutions offer emergency assistance services and free financial counseling.

The measure — the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 (H.R. 5822) — would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to maintain full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, operations throughout any lapse in government funding.

Federal lawmakers passed changes to work requirements for SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as part of the Big, Beautiful Bill Act this year.

Nearly 3 million Floridians receive SNAP benefits. But access is set to pause on Saturday.

SNAP has about $6 billion in the contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program, putting November benefits in jeopardy.

Earlier this month, Florida lawmakers learned that the state had a 15% error rate in 2024, which will soon cost the state roughly $1 billion a year.

As an increasing number of Florida EBT recipients have to meet work requirements, the state faces a potentially significant tab from the federal government.

SNAP recipients should receive their benefits in October. The White House also pledged to keep WIC operational using tariff revenues.

On "Florida Matters," we run down the grocery list of how inflation and big changes to SNAP benefits are affecting Tampa Bay families and beyond. Plus, a pediatrician talks about healthy school lunch options.