SNAP cuts hit refugees in Georgia as demand for aid sharply rises

Families who immigrated to the U.S. due to persecution in their home country have historically been able to apply for social services here, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated SNAP eligibility for certain non-U.S. citizens, even those granted legal political asylum, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Paedia Mixon is the director of New American Pathways, a nonprofit in Clarkston that helps refugees settle in Georgia. She spoke with GPB News about the impact of the change.

“I read it and saw, ‘Oh my god, they’re cutting SNAP benefits for refugees,’ and just sort of started to feel this panic,” she said.

Congressional leaders say the measure will save the federal government $187 billion over 10 years while states like Georgia with higher than average SNAP payment error rates could have to pay millions more due to a change in requirements.

Around 8,000 refugees, asylees and other legally present immigrants who are served by resettlement agencies were actively receiving SNAP benefits in Georgia as of December. 

Kyryll Levterov with New American Pathways told GPB they are seeing an increase of families coming to the agency for help after losing SNAP benefits.

“A couple of months ago it was like maybe one emergency a week, maybe a couple of times,” he said. “Now it’s a few times a day, so now it’s very different.”

SNAP benefits average from $700 to $900 per month for a family of four, and larger families can receive closer to $1,000 per month.

Amid the turmoil with SNAP benefits, Mixon said her team is already preparing for the next emergency approaching this fall. Immigrants without green cards will no longer be eligible for Medicaid.