Iowa SNAP participation at its lowest since 2008
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Fewer Iowans are using SNAP, pushing participation to its lowest level since May 2008, during the Great Recession.
Why it matters: The number of hungry Iowans hasn't gone down, but federal changes last year tightened eligibility, leading to a decline, says Luke Elzinga of the Iowa Hunger Coalition.
Driving the news: Local entities and food pantries are stepping in to absorb the fallout, but SNAP rates are expected to drop even further as work requirements kick in.
Flashback: President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," passed in July, which added stricter work requirements and limited eligibility, including disqualifying refugees who do not have green cards.
- Since then, the number of participating individuals has dropped 6%, going from 272,000 in August 2025 to 255,000 in January.
- Last year's government shutdown and SNAP suspension also created fallout, with fewer people reapplying, Elzinga says.
Zoom in: On Des Moines' north side, Zuli Garcia helps run a new multicultural food pantry through Knock and Drop Iowa.
- Garcia says families are describing their difficulties getting by, even while working full-time. Others have said that applying for food stamps has become a difficult process.
At Lutheran Services in Iowa, refugee services director Nicholas Wuertz says the rules have made it harder for new families to gain stability.
- SNAP reform rules require refugees to have a green card before they can qualify for benefits. However, families can't apply for a green card until they're in the U.S. for a year, and even then, the process to obtain a card can take several months or even over a year.
Wuertz says they worked on prepping families for the loss of benefits, but things are especially difficult for larger families who speak limited English.
- This fiscal year, the organization expects to resettle around 30 refugees, and they will be among the first groups of refugees who aren't eligible for SNAP when they arrive.
Between the lines: SNAP participation often falls when the economy improves. But Iowa's food insecurity is rising as pantry visits continue to break records, suggesting reduced access, not reduced need, may be driving the drop.
What they're saying: In October, refugees who don't have green cards will also lose Medicaid services, Wuertz says.
- "Both of those programs — SNAP and Medicaid — are these key stepping stones," Wuertz says. "They're not things that people access forever, but they are vital to helping people get started."
What's next: At the state level, lawmakers are considering new rules that could further push immigrants and refugees off benefits, including WIC, Elzinga says.