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South Dakota Value:
Number of adults age 60 and older who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) per 100 adults age 60 and older living in poverty
South Dakota Rank:
Number of adults age 60 and older who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) per 100 adults age 60 and older living in poverty
100.0 - 98.8
98.7 - 82.9
82.8 - 62.9
62.8 - 47.7
47.6 - 21.4
US Value: 82.8
Top State(s): California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont: 100.0
Bottom State(s): Wyoming: 21.4
Definition: Number of adults age 60 and older who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) per 100 adults age 60 and older living in poverty
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households Report Series, 2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households Report Series, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an anti-hunger program in the United States, helping millions of low-income Americans access food and improve their economic security and health outcomes. In 2022, older adults who lived alone received an average of $137 a month in SNAP benefits.
Despite SNAP and other nutritional aid programs, food insecurity remains a problem in the U.S. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 60 and older were food insecure in 2022, and that number is expected to exceed 9 million by 2050 if current trends continue.
Not everyone eligible for SNAP enrolls in it. Barriers to enrollment include lack of knowledge about the program and how it works, cultural beliefs, difficulty completing an application and stigma associated with receiving social services. Eligibility criteria and benefits offered vary by state. State-specific resources and applications can be found online.
According to estimates from a 2019 study, investing an additional $1 billion in SNAP could increase the U.S. gross domestic product by $1.54 billion and create more than 13,500 new jobs. SNAP can also reduce medical expenses associated with food insecurity, which currently cost each state an average of $687 million a year.
SNAP participation is higher among:
The National Council on Aging’s Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative supports community-based organizations and agencies that assist adults age 60 and older with applying for and enrolling in SNAP. AARP spotlights other state policies that have been shown to improve SNAP participation among older adults.
Older adults can find out which benefits they may be eligible for and how to access them using the free online BenefitsCheckUp tool.
Healthy People 2030 has an objective to reduce overall household food insecurity.
Berkowitz, Seth A., Sanjay Basu, Craig Gundersen, and Hilary K. Seligman. “State-Level and County-Level Estimates of Health Care Costs Associated with Food Insecurity.” Preventing Chronic Disease 16 (July 11, 2019): 180549. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd16.180549.
Dean, Olivia, Rachel Bleiweiss-Sande, and Andrew Gothro. “Solutions: State Policies Associated With Higher Participation.” Older Adult SNAP Participation Series. Washington, D.C.: AARP Public Policy Institute, July 13, 2022. https://doi.org/10.26419/ppi.00166.003.
Hake, Monica, and Sena Dawes. “Food Insecurity Among Seniors and Older Adults in 2022.” Feeding America, July 2024. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/Food%20Insecurity%20Among%20Seniors%20and%20Older%20Adults%20in%202022.pdf.
Monkovic, Mia. “Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2022.” Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, 2024. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/ops-snap-fy22-characteristics.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
