To evaluate eligibility and participation in nutrition assistance programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] and Woman, Infants, and Children [WIC]) among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults in the United States (U.S.) and to capture their experiences when accessing food benefits.

This was a cross-sectional analysis of the U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) dataset– the largest survey of TGD adults in the U.S. SNAP and WIC participation and experiences when visiting the public assistance office were reported using descriptive statistics; stratified analyses were conducted based on race using multivariate logistic regression modeling.

The USTS was completed electronically in the United States.

27,715 TGD adults.

Approximately 40.9% of the full sample were SNAP eligible, yet only 30.6% of those eligible were receiving the benefit; 0.45% of the sample reported receiving WIC. TGD adults avoided the public assistance office because they feared being mistreated (3.2%), were identified as transgender (46.2%), were denied equal treatment (6.5%), or were verbally harassed (5.2%). People of color were more likely to be denied equal treatment and verbally harassed at the public benefits office than white peers. The impact of age, education level, employment status, relationship status, and census region varied within each racial group.

Far more TGD adults need food assistance compared to the general population, yet fewer are receiving the benefit. Culturally informed interventions are urgently needed to resolve the root causes of food insecurity, increase SNAP participation and address the negative experiences of TGD adults when accessing food benefits.