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Monday, Dec. 1, 2025

Did Minnesota’s total SNAP benefits increase from 2019 to 2021?

Nikita Vashisth, MinnPost
yes

Minnesota’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issuance — the total value of benefits distributed — increased by about 273% from 2019 to 2021. 

According to fiscal year state activity reports compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the state’s issuance was $509.5 million in 2019 and $1.9 billion in 2021.  

Issuance is influenced by both participation levels and average benefit amount. On average each month, 381,779 Minnesotans received SNAP benefits in 2019 compared with 576,848 in 2021, a 51% increase. 

Nationally, SNAP issuance also grew during this period by about 95.5% in 2021, up from $55.6 billion in 2019. 

This rise reflects federal policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher participation, a temporary 15% benefit boost, emergency allotments, and an update to USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 

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