North Carolina’s state and county governments are assuming a larger share of the cost of administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP.
Under a new federal funding formula that took effect October 1, the federal government’s share of administrative expenses falls from 50% to 25%. North Carolina and its counties will be responsible for the remaining 75%, an estimated increase of approximately $85 million annually.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says the change does not reduce the grocery benefits currently received by SNAP participants. Those benefits remain fully funded by the federal government.
However, additional changes are scheduled for October 2027. At that point, states could be required to contribute toward benefit costs based on their payment-error rates.
Approximately 1.2 million North Carolinians rely on SNAP to help purchase food.
