WhThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps provide food security for more than 41 million people (about one in eight Americans), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Although it's a federal program, SNAP is administered by the states, which means benefits are distributed inconsistently across the country. Except for Alaska and Hawaii, all states have the same eligibility standards and benefit amount, as stated by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Based on the Census Bureau, the method for calculating benefits varies greatly in different states.
In New Hampshire, for example, just 6% of the population receives SNAP benefits 2022, which amounts to a meager $110 monthly stipend. In Louisiana, 17 percent of the population receives SNAP benefits, with an average payout of $135. Naturally, states with larger populations have more SNAP beneficiaries, as those who have higher poverty rates.
Even the program's name might be different in every state. It's known as FoodShare in Wisconsin. CalFresh is the name given to it in California. It's still known as Food Stamps in Utah. SNAP, by whatever name, is an important aspect of the social safety net. Here's how the states share SNAP benefits, according to Aol.
SNAP Benefits Allotment for 2022
The USDA stated in 2021 that SNAP will be subject to a cost of living adjustment (COLA) 2022. What you should know is this:
- The maximum monthly allowance for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, has been increased to $835.
- A family of four in Alaska can now get anything from $1,074 to $1,667 per month, depending on their rural/urban status.
- In Hawaii, the COLA increased the monthly cap for a family of four to $1,573.
- The minimum benefit in DC and the Lower 48 increased to $20, $26 to $40 in Alaska, and $38 in Hawaii.
- Benefits for Guam and the US Virgin Islands were also increased.
Maximum SNAP Benefits Allotment in 48 States
Virginia has extended additional SNAP benefits for another month, potentially saving hungry Virginia families hundreds of dollars.
The news came only a week before payments were supposed to be loaded into users' EBT cards on April 16, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). According to the figure below, all qualified applicants will get the maximum amount permitted based on their household size:
As per ABC8 News, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the government to declare a public health emergency, which resulted in the emergency benefits. Each month, the benefits must be authorized again. SNAP benefits can be applied online or by contacting your local social services agency.
SNAP Benefits in North Carolina May Decrease
If the Biden administration does not renew the public health emergency designation by April 15, many persons receiving Food and Nutrition Services assistance in North Carolina may see their monthly allotments reduced in May.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act permitted states like North Carolina to ignore some qualifying standards and offer households the maximum amount for their family size even though their income would normally qualify them for less FNS money.
States, on the other hand, can only suspend such restrictions if both the federal government and the state have declared an emergency or catastrophe. According to a representative for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, those additional FNS money might go in May if the Biden administration does not renew the federal public health emergency designation by April 15.
However, the department believes an extension is possible; and while the additional FNS benefits were not intended to be permanent, the agency will strive to give them for as long as allowable. If the benefits are allowed to expire, demand at local food banks and pantries may increase, WFAE reported.
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