You may have been hearing the news that SNAP benefits are going to be cut. What is the real story with SNAP? It’s the largest federal program to ensure food security for the American people and it’s funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. The full name of SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Nationally, 41.7 million Americans receive SNAP.
In New York State about 3 million people receive SNAP and in Ulster County, as of July 2025, 16,916 people in 10,768 households receive SNAP benefits that totaled $3,439,576.
Who are SNAP recipients? According to USDA, most SNAP recipients (58.4%) are seniors and children. In 2023, 28% of SNAP households had earned income; among households with children, 55% had earned income.
Federal law changed the work requirements for SNAP, and it was anticipated that these changes would go into effect in 2026. New York State was operating under a federal waiver of work requirements, but the federal government cancelled the waiver. This means that effective November 1, veterans, former foster care youth, and able-bodied adults with children between 14 and 18 years of age will now have work requirements.
However, work requirements may remain a non-issue for now because without continued federal funding SNAP benefits cards will not be filled for November. Many people have questioned whether existing balances on cards will be accessible, and currently the answer is yes. More information on that is available through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance here https://otda.ny.gov/snap-benefits-shutdown.asp.
Governor Hochul has announced a total of $106 in state funds to assist with the needs left by the gap left from the federal shut down on SNAP. The state proposed funding is a drop in the bucket. New York State residents receive $650 million in SNAP benefits per month. Even if all $41 million were expended in November of 2025, it would leave a gap of $609 million in benefits. A gap in funding for food security of this size will have an enormous negative impact on families in the State of New York.
So, what can we do? Other Counties, such as Albany County, have undertaken food collection programs in county buildings for distribution to food pantries. Cities in the Hudson Valley such as Middletown and Newburgh have allocated funding to address the gap.
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger announced redirecting $350,000 of County funds to People’s Place in Kingston, the Rondout Valley Food Pantry in Stone Ridge and Family of Woodstock, Ellenville and New Paltz in addition to working with Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to make grants to smaller pantries. The Legislative Republican Minority proposed using $1.2 million of County funds to meet SNAP needs.
Ulster County does have a robust network of food pantries and food distribution sites. This information has been mapped by Family of Woodstock and Ulster Corps.
