See Why SNAP Benefits Just Increased

The coronavirus pandemic caused many families so much job loss and financial problems that many found it impossible to feed their loved ones.

While signing up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help by receiving money each month to buy groceries, that still is not enough for many. Why? Because food is getting more expensive, so even if you receive food stamps, those benefits aren’t lasting as long.

To counteract the pandemic’s impact and rising food prices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that food stamps would increase. Best of all, that additional help would come quickly because starting in October 2021, the average SNAP recipient could expect an extra $36 per month on their EBT card. If that doesn’t seem much, it adds up to nearly $150 in additional benefits per month for a family of four, which can certainly put more food on the table.

When asked how they’ll be spending their expanded SNAP benefits, here are some examples of how food stamp families responded:

Since food stamps can now last longer, they won’t have to rely so much on local food shelters for essentials.

Fruits and vegetables are now easier to purchase. This is key with the winter coming up and the need for stronger defenses and increased immunity against the flu and other ailments.
The prices of meat are sky-high. With more SNAP benefits, proteins are more accessible, which can be used to make healthier meals that are more balanced.

How significant is the news of this SNAP benefits increase? Extremely significant since it’s the biggest jump in food stamp benefits since 1975. It doesn’t come cheap, though, as it will cost the government around $20 billion annually to give the average family of four an extra $150 per month.

It’s estimated that 42 million SNAP recipients will benefit from this increase in food stamps. And even though that sounds like an impressive number, it should be higher since many families are still struggling, but they do not know how to get SNAP benefits.

How To Sign Up For SNAP

If your family is having trouble buying healthy, affordable food, applying for SNAP could help to improve your situation. Income plays a big factor in determining your eligibility, so you’ll have to make below a certain amount to start getting food stamps.

To qualify for SNAP, the average family of four must make less than $2,871 in monthly gross income and $2,209 in monthly net income. If you feel like you could be eligible, you can start the application process by first contacting your local SNAP office. They will let you know what it takes to apply, as well as their specific requirements.

You can find help with applying for SNAP from several resources. Calling 211 and asking for assistance with SNAP applications works for some. You could also visit the sites of mRelief, Feeding America, and Hunger Free America to see if they can help. Lastly, to learn more about food stamps, visit the official government websites for the USDA, Benefits.gov, and USA.gov.