By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org
Click below for interactive map that shows numbers receiving SNAP in various municipalities
[MAP: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/bW4nn/2/]
CONCORD — If nothing is done in Washington in the next few days, about 76,000 Granite Staters will lose their food stamps, including 26,000 children.
While the state has quickly approved $2 million in emergency funding to enhance the work of the New Hampshire Food Bank, a Roman Catholic Charity, and its food pantry affiliates, most advocates call the effort a band-aid when far more will be needed to ensure New Hampshire citizens do not go hungry in a prolonged shutdown.
State residents receive about $12 million a month in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps which can be redeemed in most state grocery stores, putting the money into the local economy.
But the impact of the potential pause in food stamp benefits varies across the state with one town in Northern New Hampshire — Stratford — would have almost one in five of its residents impacted, while a small town on the Seacoast — New Castle — has no residents receiving food stamps, according to an analysis done by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute.
The analysis indicates the rural areas will be more heavily impacted than urban areas where safety net services are more readily available.
“Rural communities may feel the greatest impact – about two-thirds of the state’s SNAP recipients live outside its five largest cities, and access to food from alternative sources may be more limited,” according to NHFPI policy analyst Jessica Williams. “SNAP helps families put food on the table, while also strengthening local economies by circulating more dollars for food at community grocery stores.”
While the sheer number of people who will be impacted are the highest in Manchester — 13,938 — they represent 12 percent of the city’s population, while in Berlin, 1,445 are on food stamps, or 14.6 percent of the population.
Stratford has the highest percentage of its residents receiving SNAP benefits, 18.8 percent, yet 12 communities have less than 1 percent of its residents receiving benefits, with nine in the three southeastern counties, including seven located in Rockingham County.
“In 67 of the state’s municipalities, a greater share of the population was enrolled in SNAP than the statewide average, and most of these communities were located within the northern and southwestern regions of New Hampshire,” according to the analysis.
In Coos County along with Stratford and Berlin, there are also Stewartstown, 16.4 percent, Northumberland, 13 percent, and Dalton, 10.6 percent.
In Sullivan County, Claremont has 15.6 percent of its residents receiving food stamps, Newport, 12.2 percent, and Charlestown, 8.5 percent.
The two counties also have a large percentage of their populations enrolled in both SNAP assistance and Medicaid in federal fiscal year 2024, suggesting a greater need for services within these municipalities, according to the analysis.
After Berlin, Laconia has the highest percentage of its residents receiving benefits at 12.6 percent for cities, followed by Manchester at 12 percent, just barely topping Franklin at 11.8 percent.
Portsmouth has the lowest rate at 4.8 percent followed by Dover at 5.3 percent and Concord at 7.8 percent.
Rochester residents enrolled in SNAP are 10.5 percent, Somersworth, 8.7 percent and Nashua 8.5 percent.
While individuals and families throughout New Hampshire receive SNAP benefits, disruptions in food assistance could disproportionately impact the state’s smaller, more rural communities where food insecurity tends to be more prevalent than in metropolitan areas, according to Williams.
Across state fiscal year 2025, approximately 62.6 percent, or nearly two thirds, of Granite Staters enrolled in SNAP resided outside the state’s five largest communities: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, and Dover. Nearly half, 49.8 percent, lived in municipalities of 20,000 residents or less, and nearly one-fifth, 18.6 percent, lived in municipalities with less than 5,000 residents.
Data collected by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services would indicate that over 90 percent of the enrollees are not minorities and 95 percent have English as their primary language.
To qualify for SNAP benefits, residents must have household incomes 200 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines, or $31,300 for an individual and $64,300 for a household of four this year, and have incomes that fall below the poverty threshold after certain expenses are accounted for.
SNAP recipients are expected to receive back payment for their lost benefits when federal funding resumes, but the omnibus bill passed in June that contained the tax and spending policies that comprise the core of President Trump’s second-term agenda, may limit those eligible for SNAP benefits in the future, according to the analysis.
In the 2024 federal fiscal year, 62 percent of Granite State families receiving SNAP benefits had children, and 49 percent had members who were older adults or people with disabilities.
Most other enrollees must meet work requirements to maintain eligibility. In federal fiscal year 2024, 34 percent of New Hampshire families receiving SNAP benefits were in the state’s workforce.
Recent additions to work requirements could create barriers for recipients once they are implemented, William said.
The omnibus bill contained changes to the program’s future funding, which requires states to pick up some of the costs, which are now paid entirely by the federal government.
Any additional state funding could be a challenge as the current revenue for this fiscal year’s budget project is about $100 million in deficit.
Williams said adult food insecurity increases the likelihood of chronic physical health conditions and mental health risks.
Food insecure children are more likely to have developmental challenges, perform poorly in school and have adverse health outcomes later in life, she said.
According to national research by Moody’s Analytics, every federal SNAP dollar spent generated an estimated $1.61 in economic activity in 2021.
“By allowing recipients to spend dollars quickly on essential goods, SNAP not only reduces food insecurity, but also strengthens New Hampshire’s broader economy.” Williams said.
On Friday, social service and education advocates urged citizens to pressure their federal elected officials and the Trump administration to use the US Agriculture Department’s $5 billion to $6 billion contingency fund to cover November’s initial cost of the program until an agreement is reached to resume government operations.
Trump has refused to release the contingency money to fund November benefits saying it should be retained in the event of an emergency.
The advocates described the president’s stance as playing politics with people’s lives.
The full analysis is available here: https://nhfpi.org/blog/up-to-76000-granite-staters-particularly-in-rural-areas-face-food-assistance-disruptions-amid-federal-shutdown/
Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.