Biden Administration to Provide Emergency SNAP Benefits to Lowest Income SNAP Households - $23.6M/mo for More MA SNAP Households

FoodSNAP
Seriously, this is NO JOKE!  Yesterday, April 1st, the Biden Administration announced that the very lowest income households, the poorest SNAP recipients, will get an additional boost in their SNAP benefits. See April 1st media announcement.  And Massachusetts households will receive $23.6M per month, or nearly$142M over six months. See USDA estimates by state.  Keep in mind, the households that currently qualify for the SNAP "emergency allotment" each month  are those whose SNAP benefits are lower because their net income is higher (in "regular" SNAP times, every $3 in countable income lowers the SNAP monthly by $1/mo). The Biden Administration has recognized that the very poorest SNAP households received nothing. It is well known that SNAP benefits are simply inadequate to meet the nutritional needs of all households.
 
Below is a media statement from our friends at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) applauding USDA for this amazing decision.  And HUGE thanks to our colleagues at Community Legal Service of Philadelphia colleagues for leading the legal charge!  Background on their litigation is HERE.
 
We do NOT have details yet on how and when this new boost in SNAP will be implemented. States, including DTA, need to wait for further guidance from USDA. As soon as we know, we will let you know. 
 
NOTE:  The next April SNAP Coalition meeting is Tuesday, April 13th.  (Sorry for incorrect date in last email).  In addition to SNAP and P-EBT updates, the Dept of Public Health will present on the WIC program, 
 
 
 

Media Contact:                                                                             

Jordan Baker                                                                       
jbaker@frac.org
 202-640-1118

  

Food Research & Action Center Applauds USDA for Increasing Emergency SNAP Benefits, Providing Millions with Additional Relief During COVID-19

Statement attributable to Luis Guardia, President, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2021 â€” The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is pleased that the Biden administration has heeded our recommendation to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments during COVID-19.

We applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for taking action to improve food relief by providing $1 billion per month in additional food assistance to SNAP participants, making the program more equitable for low-income households in need during the pandemic.

FRAC is committed to continuing our work with USDA, state lawmakers, and advocates on implementing this critical investment so that families can begin receiving increased benefits expeditiously to help limit the depth and duration of food hardship and economic disruption due to COVID-19.

This news comes on the heels of additional benefits coming soon to Pennsylvania SNAP households. Attorneys secured an important victory when the Biden administration abandoned the Trump administration’s opposition to Families First SNAP Emergency Assistance going to the lowest income households already at the maximum benefit levels. 

Hunger in this country has spiked dramatically as a result of the public health and economic fallout of COVID-19 and things would be far worse if not for SNAP.

Expansion and investment of this critical program will improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of households while getting our economy moving.

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For 50 years, the Food Research & Action Center has been the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.

 

  

About Us

FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. Visit our website to learn more.

Contact Us

Food Research & Action Center
1200 18th Street, NW Suite 400
Washington, District of Columbia 20036
(202) 986-2200
nsmall@frac.org

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