This month, West Virginia residents, charitable organizations, small businesses, and the state government joined together in an effort to stem widespread hunger during the first delay in SNAP benefit distribution in history. The state’s 211 helpline saw a staggering 1,680 percent increase in calls of people needing help—largely with accessing food—compared to the same period last year. Grocery stores and restaurants donated meals. Neighbors filled blessings boxes, volunteered at food drives, and took meals to one another.
But despite their best efforts, many West Virginians still reported going hungry—some had no transportation to get to a food pantry, needed specific foods for a special diet or allergy that were not donated, or simply couldn’t find food.
The entire situation served as an important reminder: charity cannot replace the safety net. And as SNAP and health care provisions from Congress’ One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) begin to roll out, state government and charity will increasingly be called on to fill in the gaps left by Congress’ historically deep cuts (to the limited extent they can).
West Virginia’s SNAP agency announced earlier this month it was implementing the OBBB’s expanded SNAP time limits and work reporting requirements as of November 1, putting 36,000 West Virginians at risk of losing their food assistance if they are unable to meet onerous new reporting requirements. These new rules mean that parents with children over age 13, older adults between ages 55 and 64, veterans, former foster youth, and people experiencing homelessness will only be eligible for SNAP for three months every three years unless they report adequate work hours or successfully qualify for an exemption from the requirements.
Available research, including here in West Virginia, shows that SNAP work reporting requirements fail to meaningfully increase employment but do result in increased food insecurity and economic instability, pushing more people to utilize already strained charitable food networks. When prior populations became subject to these requirements, food pantries in Cabell and Mingo counties saw demand increase dramatically.
For those who think they may be newly impacted by SNAP work reporting requirements, here are a few steps you can take to better prepare.
The OBBB also made significant changes to our health care system, which will have impacts on both individuals and health systems.
Unless Congress acts quickly, more than 60,000 West Virginians will see their health care premiums on the ACA Marketplace skyrocket, with West Virginia residents seeing among the steepest cost increases of any state. Between one-fourth and one-half of those impacted are expected to forgo health coverage in 2026 altogether as the monthly cost becomes unaffordable, creating increased need for safety net health care. Meanwhile, others will be forced to make difficult budgetary choices in order to afford the increased premium costs, likely increasing housing and food insecurity and pushing more people who choose to stay insured to charitable networks.
This month’s federal government shutdown was a powerful reminder of how important a tool SNAP is in addressing hunger and economic insecurity in West Virginia—one that operates in partnership with charitable networks. As more provisions from the OBBB roll out early next year, residents, charitable networks, and the state government will be asked to step in to fill the void created by federal funding cutbacks. And once again, despite their heroic efforts, many West Virginians will fall through the cracks unless Congress rolls back their cuts.
