Between 2016 and 2018, Mississippi’s working population was nearly 12 percent. This is despite the fact that almost half of all adults were living in poverty. Mississippi was the third-hungriest state in America, with nearly half a million people living in food insecurity. According to the report, Mississippi is one the six states that have not adopted its own minimum wage. This factor determines one’s ability afford food. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 covers most employees in these states, which hasn’t increased since 2009. According to the report, Mississippians who are hungry would have to spend $227 millions more food on their daily food needs. They also need to spend twice as much food on their food as non-hungry Mississippians. The gap could be bridged by higher wages and increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending. The federal work requirement for recipients of non-disabled food aid was lifted in Mississippi in 2016. This is a similar move that the federal government intends to impose on all other states. Some Mississippi beneficiaries could see benefits increases of up to $14 per month under new rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These rules will take effect April 1.