Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: How many noncitizens received SNAP benefits in 2020 vs 2023?
Executive Summary
A recent analysis reports that about 1.764 million non-citizens received SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2023, representing roughly $5.7 billion in expenditures, but the available materials do not provide a comparable, authoritative count for 2020, so a direct year-to-year numeric comparison is not supported by the supplied data. The documents reviewed converge on the point that SNAP eligibility rules for non-citizens are complex and have changed over time, and that public reporting in these sources emphasizes eligibility frameworks rather than comprehensive yearly beneficiary counts for 2020 versus 2023 [1] [2] [3].
1. A headline figure emerges — but it leaves a gap that matters
The strongest claim present in the materials is the 2023 tally: approximately 1.764 million non-citizens received SNAP in FY2023, costing about $5.7 billion, a figure stated explicitly in one of the analyses and presented as a recent analytical finding [1]. This number functions as a headline but is not accompanied by parallel 2020 data in the supplied documents, so drawing conclusions about trends, increases, or decreases between 2020 and 2023 would be speculative based on this corpus alone. The available sources repeatedly note that the USDA guidance and related profiles focus primarily on eligibility rules and program changes, which explains why a direct comparative count for 2020 is absent from these texts [3] [2].
2. Why the sources emphasize rules over year-to-year counts
The materials make clear that much of the reporting on non-citizen SNAP use centers on legal eligibility categories, statutory changes, and state-level program variations, not on producing annually comparable beneficiary headcounts for specific subpopulations like non-citizens [3]. This orientation reflects the policy focus of the documents: explaining who can qualify, which non-citizen statuses are excluded (for example, undocumented immigrants), and how legislative changes — such as provisions implemented under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 — affect participation and program administration. Because the supplied analyses prioritize structural explanation and guidance, the absence of 2020 counts appears to be a feature of source purpose rather than an oversight [2] [4].
3. Multiple angles on the same issue — numbers versus rules
The supplied materials present two distinct approaches: one analysis offers a specific 2023 numeric estimate [1], while several other pieces provide background on eligibility and program mechanics without numeric breakdowns for 2020 or 2023 [2] [3]. These differences likely reflect methodology and intent: the numeric estimate comes from an analytic compilation or study aiming to quantify participation, whereas the USDA guidance and data profiles are structured to inform practitioners and policymakers about eligibility criteria and program implementation. Both approaches are valid but address different user needs; one gives a snapshot estimate for 2023, the others explain the rules that determine who is counted and why comparable year-to-year figures may be difficult to extract from administrative guidance alone [1] [2].
4. What’s missing and why that matters for interpretation
Because none of the supplied texts provide a verified 2020 count of non-citizen SNAP recipients, any statement claiming a specific 2020-to-2023 change cannot be substantiated using only these materials. The absence of 2020 data means readers cannot determine whether the 1.764 million in 2023 represents growth, decline, or stability relative to 2020. This gap is meaningful for debates about policy impact, immigration, and program costs: policy discussions that cite a single-year 2023 figure without a reliable 2020 comparator risk drawing misleading conclusions. The documents also caution that different data sources and definitions (fiscal year versus calendar year, types of non-citizen status included) can produce divergent counts, further complicating cross-year comparisons [1] [3].
5. How to reconcile the evidence and what to request next
To resolve the comparison question authoritatively, request or consult datasets that explicitly break out SNAP recipients by immigration status for both 2020 and 2023, with clear definitions and the same time-base (fiscal or calendar year). The supplied materials indicate that USDA guidance explains eligibility but does not publish a straightforward 2020 vs 2023 non-citizen headcount in these excerpts [3]. In practice, pairing the 2023 analytic estimate with an equivalent 2020 analytic or administrative count — ensuring identical inclusion rules — is the only way to produce a valid comparison; absent that, the responsible statement is that a 2023 estimate exists but a comparable 2020 number is not available in the reviewed sources [1] [2].