Mary Dacus, 69, and her husband in Robinson, Illinois, make do with a $2,140 monthly Social Security income. They receive only $23 a month from SNAP budget but face challenges with debt, often needing to use local food pantries despite cooking wisely to stretch their budget.
SNAP Budget Struggles – Mary Dacus’ Battle to Make Ends Meet on $23 a Month
According to the article in Business Insider, Mary Dacus, 69, lives in Robinson, Illinois, where she and her husband rely on their $2,140 monthly Social Security income. Despite this, they only receive $23 a month in SNAP budget benefits to buy food and essentials. Mary shops at local stores like Ruler Foods and Walmart to get what they need, but often they run out and needs to go back during the month.
Managing their budget is tough. They have nearly $10,000 in credit card debt and no savings left. Mary is a good cook and makes meals like casseroles and crockpot dishes to stretch their food. But the $23 from the SNAP budget isn’t nearly enough, so they also rely on food pantries, even though they’re not always nearby or have good food.
READ ALSO: $7,500 Electric Car Tax Credit: How You Can Save On EVs Today – Check It Now!
$23 SNAP Budget: Mary Dacus’ Struggle in Robinson, Illinois (PHOTO: National Council on Agriculture)
SNAP Budget Challenges Highlight Financial Strain for Families Nationwide
Furthermore, Mary’s situation shows how hard it is for many families across the country who depend on the SNAP budget but still struggle with bills and don’t qualify for other help like WIC or the child tax credit. This means constantly trying to balance their expenses and make sure they have enough to eat and live on.
READ ALSO: $8.5 Million Initiative: FreshConnect CSA Brings Locally Grown Food To New Yorkers On SNAP
