What Disabled Episcopalians Need to Know About Losing SNAP Benefits

For many of us living with disabilities, food security is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps millions of Americans, including people with developmental, physical, and mental disabilities, put food on the table each month. But thanks to the government shutdown, many disabled people will temporarily lose SNAP benefits beginning November 1, 2025.

For those who depend on both disability benefits (like SSI or SSDI) and SNAP, this impending loss can feel devastating. How will I eat? What will happen if I accept help from a friend or church? Will a “gift” of groceries affect my benefits?

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) recently released guidance titled “Protecting Your Benefits: What to Know About Accepting Gifts.” While this article focuses broadly on gifts and benefits, its wisdom applies directly to this moment when many disabled people are facing new or confusing rules about food assistance.

Understanding Gifts, Help, and Benefit Rules

As SNAP benefits are paused this November, many of us rely more on generosity — a friend’s grocery gift card, a parish food pantry, or meals offered by church members. The NACDD warns that while gifts are acts of love, some types of assistance can unintentionally count as income or resources under federal benefit rules.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

Gifts of food from individuals or food pantries don’t count as income for SNAP or SSI. Accept them freely.

Cash gifts or Venmo transfers can count as income. If you’re receiving disability benefits, those may reduce your monthly check.

Gift cards may or may not count — cards limited to groceries are usually OK, but open-use cards (like Visa/Mastercard gift cards) can sometimes count as income.

An ABLE account (if you’re eligible) can hold financial gifts safely without affecting your benefits up to certain limits. ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts are special savings accounts for people whose disability began before age 26 (expanding to 46 in 2026). They allow you to save and spend money on disability-related expenses — such as food, housing, transportation, or medical care — without it counting against your SSI, SSDI, or Medicaid eligibility.

When in doubt, consult your state’s SNAP office or a benefits planner. NACDD recommends keeping a simple record of any help you receive — who gave it, when, and what form it took. That helps clarify your situation if you’re ever questioned about how your survived without SNAP.

Living Faithfully Amid Bureaucracy

In the Episcopal tradition, we proclaim that all people are beloved of God. The loss of food assistance is not just an economic issue; it’s a justice issue. The church has long been called to “feed the hungry” and advocate for those who are hungry.

If you’re a disabled Episcopalian facing SNAP loss, remember:

• You are not alone. Many parishes and diocesan ministries offer food pantries, meal programs, and grocery stipends.
• Asking for help is not shameful; it is a holy act of mutual care.
• If your congregation wants to help you, share NACDD’s guidance with them so they can offer support that won’t endanger your benefits.

Clergy and lay leaders can use this moment to educate congregations about how disability benefits work and to advocate for fair food-access policies at the local and national levels.

Faith Reflection: Bread for the Journey

Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand began with scarcity: “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” Yet in that moment of need, abundance was revealed through shared faith and compassion.

When the government reduces our safety nets, we are called to expand our community nets — networks of love, justice, and care. SNAP may help fill the pantry, but it is the Body of Christ that fills our spirits and sustains our dignity.