Millions of Children Above SNAP Eligibility Thresholds Still Face Food Insecurity

Food insecurity (FI) persists among children living above current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility thresholds, suggesting that existing broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) parameters may not fully reflect current US economic conditions, according to a research letter recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.¹

FI Burden and SNAP Eligibility Thresholds

FI affects approximately 13% of children nationwide and is associated with adverse physical, behavioral, and developmental outcomes that often extend into adulthood. Although household poverty status is commonly used to identify risk, it fails to fully capture need, as nearly one-third of households that are FI live above the federal poverty level (FPL).

Federal nutrition assistance programs, particularly SNAP, are a key strategy for reducing FI and mitigating its downstream health consequences. SNAP eligibility is typically set near 200% of the FPL under BBCE, which is adopted by most states. However, rising costs for housing, food, and childcare have outpaced wage growth, raising concerns that current eligibility thresholds may no longer adequately reflect economic hardship.

Against this backdrop, investigators evaluated the prevalence of FI and associated risk factors among children living above the BBCE-SNAP income threshold in the US. The study used the 2024 National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative survey, and included children aged 5 to 17 in households living above 200% of the FPL.

The study’s primary outcome was caregiver-reported FI. The researchers conducted descriptive analyses and estimated adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) to examine associations between FI and child- and household-level characteristics, with analyses conducted from December 2025 to January 2026.

FI Prevalence, Disparities Among Children Above 200% of the FPL

The study population represented an estimated 33,251,836 children in the US living in households above 200% of the FPL. Of these, 17,262,843 (51.9%) were aged 5 to 11 years, and 16,834,343 (50.6%) were male.

Overall, 658,704 children (2.0%) experienced FI despite their household income exceeding SNAP eligibility thresholds. Nearly half (47.3%; n = 311,334) lived in households between 201% and 250% of the FPL.

FI was not evenly distributed across populations. In adjusted analyses, Black children had more than twice the risk of FI compared with White children (aRR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.39-3.41; P < .001). Hispanic or Latino children also had elevated risk (aRR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.15-2.69; P = .009), with children living in Spanish-speaking households experiencing a similarly increased risk (aRR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.05-5.03; P = .04).

Additionally, insurance status was a strong predictor of FI, as children with public insurance had nearly 5 times the risk compared with those with private coverage (aRR, 4.73; 95% CI, 3.03-7.37; P < .001). Lower caregiver educational attainment was also significantly associated with FI; children whose caregivers had a high school diploma or GED faced increased risk (aRR, 5.20; 95% CI, 3.01-9.01; P < .001).

The researchers observed the strongest gradient by income level. Children in the 201% to 250% FPL range had the highest risk of FI (aRR, 12.59; 95% CI, 7.64-20.76; P < .001), accounting for approximately half of all FI cases above SNAP eligibility thresholds.

They noted that these findings indicate that current BBCE parameters may not fully align with contemporary economic conditions or adequately capture families experiencing material hardship. The researchers also explained that recent provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would shift greater administrative and financial responsibility for SNAP to states, potentially incentivizing tighter eligibility criteria and further limiting access among at-risk households.²

“Our results highlight the need for policymakers to advocate for BBCE expansion, rather than constriction, recognizing SNAP’s dual role in promoting child health and functioning as a downstream economic stimulant for communities,” the authors wrote.¹

Implications for SNAP Policy, BBCE Expansion

They concluded by acknowledging that the study has several limitations, including its cross-sectional design, which prevents the assessment of causality or temporal relationships between socioeconomic factors and FI. Still, the researchers noted the robustness of their findings.

“…our study demonstrates the substantial prevalence of FI among children excluded from SNAP under current BBCE,” they wrote. “These results underscore the limitations of rigid poverty thresholds in assisting families with FI and raise concern that policy efforts to further restrict BBCE may unintentionally worsen child health inequities.”

References

1. Gabbay JM, Muleta H, Castellanos MB, Levano SR, Fiori KP. Childhood food insecurity beyond traditional SNAP income thresholds. JAMA Pediatr. Published online April 20, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.0962
2. CBO report warns SNAP cuts will deepen hunger, harm households. News release. FRAC. August 12, 2025. Accessed April 20, 2026. https://frac.org/news/cboscoreaug2025