Amidst the government shutdown the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been suspended, causing some people question if the program is necessary.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed on July 4. One of the provisions tightened the work requirements for SNAP, leaving some that were previously eligible stranded. Last month the program took another hit due to the government shutdown, with the Supreme Court blocking SNAP payments.

This blockage is unprecedented considering that previous government shutdowns have never affected the program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Pew Research Center, almost 42 million people use this program, that’s 12.5% of the population.

There seems to have always been ignorance around people who rely on food stamps. And with these changes, we can see a clear lack of empathy for those who recently lost their main source of food. There is a common idea that people on the program should just “work harder.” In reality, 39% of those who benefit from the program are children, and about 25% of SNAP recipients have a disability, many unable to work. 85% of families receiving SNAP had one working person in their household in the last 12 months.

Many prominent figures have been using this pause on SNAP to share their opinions on the program. Matt Walsh, The Daily Wire political commentator, recently called SNAP recipients entitled, lazy and barely literate. The belief that SNAP recipients are lazy isn’t backed up by data.

Other prominent political commentators have made derogatory and false comments about SNAP recipients. Saying they don’t need the program because they are obese, acting like needing assistance is a moral failing.

The rhetoric that people on government programs wouldn’t need them if they worked harder is dangerous.

That idea makes people question the need for government programs, which could in turn shut them down altogether. The very word “handout” carries a negative connotation, when in reality it simply means distributing help to those who need it.

This misunderstanding of SNAP recipients comes from a lack of understanding around the program. Many people can work a full time job and afford to feed themselves and their family, but that doesn’t mean that everyone can. Everyone lives different lives with different challenges, just because you don’t struggle with something doesn’t mean that someone else isn’t.

People need to get better at understanding others’ perspectives. Having empathy can go a long way.

People on SNAP don’t want to be dependent on it, but for some it’s the only option.

Anyone has the ability to lose their job or become disabled and for many people that means needing government assistance. Many people are closer to needing handouts than they think, so let’s all have a little more compassion.