Hawai'i aims to enhance food security for its residents, with Governor Josh Green announcing planned increases to the state's SNAP benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is expected to provide around $45 million in relief to families across the islands, according to a news release from the Office of the Governor.
The policy change, based on a study from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO), aims to expand eligibility to an additional 13,000 to 14,000 households. These families are expected to receive an average of $3,200 per year in SNAP assistance. According to the Office of the Governor, Governor Green stated, "This is going to provide a huge relief for our working-class families who are struggling with Hawai‘i’s highest-in-the-nation cost of living." The shift reflects a more detailed understanding of poverty in an area with a significant gap between wages and living expenses.
Historically, the federal government determined SNAP eligibility. However, since the early 2000s, states have gained more control over their welfare programs through "broad-based categorical eligibility" (BBCE). This policy change means that asset limits are no longer strict disqualifiers, allowing households with modest savings to seek support. Additionally, the removal of the "net income limit," which subtracts certain household expenses from gross income, further expands eligibility for aid. According to UHERO, this could lead to an increase in SNAP-eligible households, promoting a more accessible and equitable framework for food assistance, as per the Office of the Governor.
Moreover, this expansion in SNAP accessibility isn't expected to drastically inflate administrative costs. According to the co-author of the report, Dylan Moore, the state's share of additional expenses is only about 5.6% of the benefits paid to Hawai'i families. "This decision has far-reaching implications," Moore told the Office of the Governor. Not only could it escalate benefit payments but potentially simplify the eligibility understanding for households considering SNAP.
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