SNAP Benefits Update: $334.5 Million Budget Approved for Texas Payments This November 2022

SNAP Benefits update has been announced in Texas, with Gov. Greg Abbott noting that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is providing more than $334.5 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance emergency allotments.

The emergency allotment for SNAP benefits in November 2022 is expected to help around 1.6 million Texas households.

Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter noted in the press release that the state and its partnered agencies hope that it would provide nourishing meals to Texans in need as the holiday season nears.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted HHSC federal approval to extend the emergency allotments, with the amount of SNAP benefits to receive depend on family size.

SNAP households will receive a minimum of $95 in emergency allotments which should be reflected by November 30 on recipients' accounts.

The November emergency allotments are on top of more than $8.7 billion in benefits previously provided to Texas residents since April 2020.

SNAP Benefits Texas

If you just recently became eligible for SNAP benefits in Texas, you might experience a short delay in getting benefits.

A single mother in North Texas was still waiting on her benefits, which she filed in July 2022.

There were 198,025 new SNAP benefits applications waiting to be processed, while state workers themselves are lining up in food banks while waiting for their own applications to go through.

Aside from delays in SNAP benefits, Texas residents also applying for Medicaid are also facing delays.

The state's HHSC has consistently processed SNAP benefits applications, but an influx of new applicants through the pandemic combined with a high turnover of eligibility workers have led to significant delays.

One employee noted that they are going to pantries or the food bank to put meals on their tables, citing the cost of living going higher.

The same employee noted that the state was not even considering giving them a raise or merit to help the employees out, as reported by KXAN News.

Tiffany Young, Assistant Press Officer with HHSC, said in September that the state increased base salaries for clerks, eligibility advisors, and supervisors.

SNAP Benefits Payments

SNAP benefits payments are distributed through the state's EBT card, known as the Texas Lone Star Cards.

Texas Lone Star card are accepted at major grocery chains or retailers. Any store that has a Lone Star card sign also accepts EBT cards for payments.

Recipients can ask store employees if they accept the EBT card if postings are not made available.

Aside from using it for grocery and basic goods, EBT cardholders can also use their Texas Lone Star Card to avail of Amazon Prime, with the subscription priced at $6.99. it is about half the regular cost of a subscription.

Over 600 museums, aquariums, and zoos around the country welcome SNAP recipients at a discounted price, once they present their Lone Star cards. Some museums, zoos, and aquariums admit visitors for free if they have EBT cards.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: SNAP food benefits delayed for some Texas families - from KXAN