SNAP Benefits 2023: $344.1 Million Approved for January Food Stamp Payments in Texas

Texas' first SNAP benefits payment in 2023 will soon be distributed to its eligible residents after Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state's Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is issuing more than $344.1 million in emergency SNAP food benefits this month.

It will be the first SNAP benefits payment in January, which is projected to help around 1.6 million Texas households.

Abbott said the state government will continue to support Texans by extending emergency SNAP benefits.

He then thanked the HHSC because Texans will be able to access healthy food to put on the table. HHSC received approval from the U.S. Agriculture Department to extend the maximum allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size.

SNAP households in Texas will receive a minimum of $95 in emergency allotments. SNAP benefits recipients should be able to see the emergency allotments on their accounts by January 31.

This month's emergency allotments will be distributed on top of more than $9.3 billion in benefits previously given to Texas residents.

SNAP Benefits 2023

The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that several changes might affect the benefits of some SNAP recipients over the coming months.

The emergency allotments, which were first imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance.

Some states have already ended their emergency allotments, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Idaho, and Nebraska, among others.

South Carolina is also ending the distribution of emergency allotments after the January 2023 issuance to their state SNAP recipients.

In Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the average SNAP benefits amount will return to normal in March 2023.

Meanwhile, SNAP benefits recipients also receiving Social Security payments may also see a decrease in their SNAP payments due to higher Social Security benefits.

SNAP Benefits Update

The food stamp payment program currently supports around 42 million beneficiaries relying on SNAP benefits for food necessities.

SNAP benefits recipients can also collect Social Security benefits if they fall into the special category for people aged 60 and older.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses income limits based on household size to determine SNAP eligibility. Most of the applicants must meet the limits on both gross income and net income.

The gross monthly income limit should fall at 130% of the poverty line, while the net monthly income limit should be 100% of the poverty line.

The Social Security Administration also stated that if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you may be eligible for SNAP benefits payments to purchase food.

A 2021 National Council on Aging (NCOA) report noted that three out of five older adults who qualify for SNAP are missing out on their rightful benefits. The number is equivalent to five million people.

NCOA added that many people believe that older Americans can only receive as much as $16 per month in food stamps, but that is just the minimum, with the maximum can be worth more than $100.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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