Extra SNAP Benefits Gone Soon! 3 Food Programs You Can Avail

The SNAP benefits emergency allotments will be ending soon after Congress passed a bill that will halt the distribution of the temporary benefit increases aimed at addressing food insecurity and providing an economic cushion during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is seen to average only about $6.10 per person per day in 2023, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

In January, the first state to end its SNAP benefits emergency allotments is South Carolina, which will be followed by other states, including Guam, D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands.

In March 2023, all SNAP benefits will be at normal amounts, without the emergency allotments.

Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern argued that without the emergency allotments, the U.S. is "going backwards" in its goal to end hunger by 2030. The lawmaker has promoted anti-hunger efforts and has pushed for increased SNAP benefits.

U.S. Food Assistance Programs Amid SNAP Benefits Ending

Anti-hunger advocates welcomed the creation of a permanent program during the same, wherein low-income children struggle to get nutritious food, enabling eligible families to receive $40 per child a month on groceries.

There are also other food assistance programs that could benefit numerous families if they are deemed eligible. These programs include the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, which provides U.S. Department of Agriculture Foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations.

In the fiscal year 2019, the average monthly participation for the program reached 83,800.

To be eligible, you must be residing on participating reservations or be income-eligible Indian Tribal Households living near approved areas.

If you are not qualified for the food program on Indian reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program might be for you. The program aims to improve the health of low-income elderly persons through nutritional meals.

Women, infants, and children applying for CSFP on February 7, 2014 or later will not be allowed to participate in the program under the Agricultural Act of 2014.

However, those who have already been participating since February 6, 2014 will continue to receive assistance until they are no longer eligible.

Food available under this program are fruits, vegetables, protein foods, and legumes, may it all be canned or preserved.

Another available program is the Emergency Food Assistance Program. It provides emergency food assistance at no cost to low-income Americans and elderly people.

TEFAP offers their assistance to public or private nonprofit organizations that provide nutrition assistance to low-income Americans, households meeting their states' eligibility standard, and those recipients of prepared meals.

SNAP Benefits Ending

McGovern said that ending the SNAP emergency allotment "is bad" and a "lousy thing" amid the inflation and high food prices.

Anti-hunger advocates have also warned of a possible "hunger cliff" for many of the 42 million people receiving SNAP.

Atlanta Community Food Bank president and CEO Kyle Waide said that the increase in demand was directly attributed to the loss of emergency allotments.

The organization noted that visits to their site increased by about 34%. It currently serves 29 counties.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department's Research Service forecasts that food prices will jump by 4.2% to 10.1%, as compared to 2022.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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