The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides vital food assistance to more than 147,000 households throughout West Virginia, with research showing it improves health and boosts household economic security. People participating in SNAP spend about 25 percent less on health care annually than similar non-participating adults, report better health, and are less likely to stay home sick or need medical attention, even as they are less likely to forego needed care because of the cost.[1]
SNAP benefits are 100 percent federally funded. Each year, SNAP lifts 51,000 West Virginians above the poverty line, including 18,000 children, all while providing vital food assistance to a wide array of households including senior citizens, low-income workers, and residents with disabilities.[2]
While SNAP dollars are modest for households (less than $6 per person per day on average) these dollars are vital for retailers, grocers, and our state’s broader economy. In 2024, SNAP brought over $500 million in federal food benefits into the state, benefiting more than 2,200 authorized West Virginia SNAP retailers. SNAP plays an important role in the food economy, particularly during economic downturns. As more households become eligible for SNAP when the economy weakens, SNAP spending increases (while other spending is often declining) which, in turn, stimulates the economy. In a weak economy, SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity for every $1 spent on the program.[3]
State proposals to limit foods that can be purchased with SNAP dollars, like that in HB 2350, could face significant challenges receiving federal approval and cost West Virginia retailers vital federal food dollars, all while failing to address underlying goals of improving nutrition among households.
Read the full fact sheet here.
[1] Steven Carlson and Brynne Keith-Jennings, “SNAP Is Linked With Improved Nutritional Outcomes and Lower Health Care Costs”, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 2018.
[2] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “West Virginia SNAP Fact Sheet”, January 21, 2025.
[3] United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, “SNAP-Key Statistics and Research”, Updated January 6, 2025.
