The Potential Impacts of Updating the Thrifty Food Plan on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Directions for Policy Research

ABSTRACT Monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are determined based on a Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) issued by the US Department of Agriculture, which identifies the lowest cost of an adequate monthly meal plan. In fiscal year 2022, the USDA updated the TFP for the first time in decades, leading to an increase in SNAP benefits. This policy review identifies and discusses the potential impacts of this increase on SNAP recipients' food security, health, nutrition, food consumption, and food shopping behavior, as well as the effect on unemployment, SNAP caseload size, and participation rates.