How much does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cost annually (US) in 2023?

1. What the headline number means: FY2023 spending and how it’s measured

The $112.8 billion figure cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service refers to total SNAP spending for fiscal year 2023 — the consolidated federal outlays for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for that 12‑month period ^[1]. That total includes regular monthly benefits paid to households but does not by itself break out administrative aid, improper payment estimates, or separate program lines unless the underlying USDA tables do so ^{[1] [2]}.

2. Why spending fell from the pandemic peak

SNAP spending climbed sharply during the COVID-19 public‑health emergency because of emergency allotments and several increases to maximum benefit amounts: emergency boosts in January 2021, a Thrifty Food Plan revision in October 2021, and another adjustment in October 2022. Those policy changes largely explain the rise to $125.0 billion in FY2021 and the subsequent decline to $112.8 billion in FY2023 as emergency boosts ended ^[1].

3. Program mechanics that determine annual cost

SNAP is open‑ended, mandatory spending — Congress authorizes benefits but does not cap outlays; benefits fluctuate with participation and benefit levels. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) sets maximum allotments and income eligibility via annual Cost‑of‑Living Adjustments (COLAs), effective each fiscal year, which directly affect benefit totals ^{[4] [3]}. The USDA’s SNAP Data Tables and ERS reports are the primary sources for the participant counts and spending details that produce annual cost totals ^{[2] [5]}.

4. Different figures you may encounter and why they vary

Reporters and analysts sometimes cite different numbers because of timing and definitions. For example, ERS’s $112.8 billion is the FY2023 total based on preliminary 2023 data ^[1]. Other outlets or aggregators that include 2024 preliminary totals or different cutoffs report higher or lower numbers; USAFacts reported about $100.3 billion for FY2024 (a different year) ^[6]. Always check which fiscal year, and whether the number is benefits only, includes administrative costs, or is a calendar‑year sum ^{[6] [1] [2]}.

5. Administrative costs, improper payments, and other “above‑the‑line” items

Available USDA reporting and commentators note that program spending discussions frequently focus on benefit totals, but other costs and integrity issues exist. ERS and FNS provide program detail; separate reporting has discussed improper payments and administrative spending as notable line items needing oversight ^{[1] [2]}. Specific dollar totals for administrative budgets or improper payments in FY2023 are referred to in some secondary reporting but are not given as a single consolidated figure in the core ERS spending chart cited here ^[1].

6. What the sources say about household benefit size and participation

ERS and USDA materials used to explain spending patterns also publish participation statistics and average benefit levels that explain per‑person or per‑household costs. Those statistics are available through the SNAP Data Tables and ERS key‑statistics pages, which are the authoritative sources for how many people were served and the average benefit amounts that aggregate into the total outlay ^{[2] [5]}.

7. Limitations, disputes, and competing framings

Different stakeholders frame SNAP costs for political effect: some emphasize the program’s growth and fiscal burden, others stress the social safety‑net benefits and link costs to economic cycles. The ERS data provide neutral yearly totals and traces of policy drivers ^[1]. USAFacts and other aggregators give alternate year snapshots ^[6]. Readers should match the fiscal year and whether the figure includes emergency allotments, administrative expenses, or improper payment estimates before comparing numbers ^{[6] [1] [4]}.

8. Where to look next for primary documents

For the official FY2023 spending tables, participation counts and allotment rules consult the USDA FNS SNAP Data Tables and the ERS SNAP publications; for COLA and allotment rules that set benefit levels, consult the FNS FY2023 COLA memorandum ^{[2] [3] [4]}. These primary pages are cited throughout USDA reporting and are the best sources for verifying and dissecting the $112.8 billion FY2023 total ^{[1] [2]}.