Edge of Eligibility: How Close We Really Are
Every time there's a story about SNAP benefits being delayed or cut, I see the same comments online.
"Get a job."
"People just want handouts."
"If I can make it, so can they."
It's disheartening. And honestly, it's short-sighted.
What many people don't realize is how fragile stability really is. Most of us live closer to the edge than we'd like to admit. A sudden layoff, a medical bill, a broken car, or even one missed paycheck can change everything.
SNAP isn't about laziness or dependence. It's about survival. It's about keeping food on the table when life punches you in the gut.
Most people who receive SNAP benefits are already working. Many are single parents doing everything they can to keep their families afloat. They're not taking advantage of the system—they're trying to make it through a system that's already stacked against them.
When people talk about "those people," as if poverty is some faraway thing that could never touch them, I wish they'd stop and think about what one unlucky break would look like in their own lives. The truth is, most Americans don't have enough savings to cover even a $1,000 emergency. That's not a moral failure. That's just how close we all are to needing help.
Empathy shouldn't be controversial. It's not weakness to care. It's awareness. It's the understanding that life is unpredictable, and that the safety nets we fund today might be the same ones that catch us tomorrow.
That's what Edge of Eligibility is about. It's not a game to judge people—it's a mirror. It shows just how thin the line is between being stable and being in need.
SNAP doesn't make people lazy. It keeps them fed. It keeps parents from skipping meals so their kids can eat. It gives people space to breathe when everything else in their lives is falling apart.
If you've never had to choose between groceries and gas, be grateful. But don't assume that means you never will.