06/09/2026
I want to offer some perspective as a former Benefits Specialist.
The SNAP replacement benefit issue is not something local Department of Social Services workers have the authority to fix. The federal funding that supported replacement benefits was not renewed after it expired in December 2024, which significantly changed what states are able to provide when benefits are stolen.
With that said, I would encourage people to direct their concerns toward policymakers and decision-makers who have the authority to address these issues—not the frontline workers who are processing applications, answering phones, and serving families each day. These employees are often managing heavy caseloads while working within policies they did not create and cannot change.
If you are concerned about the impact these changes are having on families, make your voice heard. Contact your elected officials—respectfully. I emphasize respectfully because many of the elected officials who were in office when these decisions were made are no longer serving, and current officials are often working to address challenges they inherited. Share your experiences, speak with media outlets, and advocate for policy solutions that support the communities affected.
Healthy advocacy starts with understanding where decisions are made. This is a policy issue, not a frontline worker issue.
Facts matter. Accountability matters. And directing concerns to the appropriate decision-makers is how meaningful change happens.
We have attached Food Pantries & Resources that are apart of our
NaQuetta Mitchell
Founder & Executive Director
Women Of Endurance
