Who is the majority of SNAP recipients?

The majority of SNAP recipients are children, older adults, and people with disabilities, along with their families. According to USDA data, children under 18 make up about 40 to 45 percent of all SNAP participants, making them the single largest age group. When you look at household composition, the majority of SNAP households include either a child, an elderly person aged 60 or older, or a person with a disability. Many adult recipients are working, often in low-wage jobs with inconsistent hours, such as food service, retail, home health care, and warehousing. In terms of gender, a majority of adult recipients are women, reflecting the higher number of single-mother households living in poverty. Racially and ethnically, SNAP participants reflect the demographics of the low-income population, with White individuals making up the largest share numerically, followed by Black and Hispanic participants. The majority of recipients have incomes well below the federal poverty line and receive benefits for a relatively short to medium period during times of economic hardship.