By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — More Arizona families are going without SNAP benefits as changes to the food assistance program continue to be felt by hundreds of thousands in the state.
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In April, the Arizona Department of Economic Security reported that just over 235,000 families received SNAP benefits. That marks a steep drop from last July, when over 455,000 families received the benefits — a decline of nearly 50%.
India Gibson, a single mom, says she has gone months without SNAP benefits despite submitting applications, calling the DES office and waiting.
“I have sent in numerous amounts of paperwork since August,” Gibson said. “I want to say my confidence is pretty low, you know? And it gets lower every day, you get discouraged that you called this line and you don’t know what to do.”
Gibson’s situation is not new or unique.
Adrienne Udarbe is the executive director of Pinnacle Prevention, a nonprofit focused on the food system. She says what’s happening to SNAP right now is alarming.
“I don’t foresee improvements happening at all here in 2026,” Udarbe said. “We certainly are not seeing a drop in the number of folks that are participating because we’ve solved hunger.”
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that Arizona had the largest percentage decline in SNAP participation since July 2025.
A DES spokesperson says caseloads dropped after the state applied Trump administration changes from last summer. They include requiring able-bodied adults to work and getting rid of an exemption to that requirement for people in Maricopa County, which is the state’s most populous county.
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DES is also dealing with a backlog in caseload they blame on implementing a new program to comply with new Payment Error Rate requirements. The Arizona Department of Economic Security says while progress has been made, there are still barriers, including relying on outdated technology.
A DES spokesperson says they’ve requested multiple waivers from the federal government to help with timeliness. The governor proposed to help with administrative costs. That’s on top of the $6.4 the governor’s office invested in the agency in December.
Gibson says she’s struggling in the job market and has had to leave past jobs to care for her kids, who have a life-threatening blood disorder.
“Pay my lights, or feed my children,” Gibson said. “I just want to get the help that I need before I have to be subject to doing things that I no longer do and have fixed my life and came a long way from to take care of my family, you know?”
Earlier this month, the USDA announced it will require SNAP authorized stores to carry seven varieties of items across protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.
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