The White House has just confirmed a change in one of the most popular social benefits in the country. Just when its amounts had been expanded, now something that had been unchanged for the longest time has been updated. This is the SNAP change for April, with new food items that you will be able to buy with the SNAP tickets you are entitled to (updated list with the supermarkets that accept them).
New SNAP change for April: the White House confirms what was expected
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides financial assistance for food purchasing to millions of low-income individuals and families across the United States. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service.
In April 2024, major changes to SNAP will go into effect, expanding eligibility, increasing benefits, and allowing participants to purchase a wider variety of nutritious foods. These updates aim to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition for low-income households.
Elegibility has been expanded: the popular measure to increase SNAP in April
The USDA has expanded SNAP eligibility to reach more low-income families starting in April 2024. The gross income threshold has been raised to 200% of the federal poverty level, allowing more households to qualify. This means a family of 4 can now earn up to $55,500 per year and still receive benefits, up from $41,000 previously.
The asset limit has also been eliminated, so families can have more savings and still qualify. In the past, households could only have $2,500 in countable assets like a bank account. Now all assets are excluded. These changes will help struggling workers and fixed-income seniors access nutrition assistance.
The income deductions used to calculate net monthly income have also been increased. This means applicants can subtract more from their gross earnings for expenses like housing and childcare. As a result, they will qualify for higher monthly benefit allotments.
New foods in SNAP change for April: the increased list of products, confirmed
One of the most significant changes coming to SNAP in April 2024 is the allowance for food delivery fees. Previously, SNAP benefits could only be used for purchasing food items at grocery stores or farmers markets. But now, SNAP recipients will be able to use their benefits to pay for delivery fees when ordering groceries.
This is the list that has been confirmed, at least by sources close to the officials, with all the new foods that will be included in SNAP as of April, with the intention of diversifying and enriching the diet of those who depend on these checks to subsist, as you know:
- Expansion of wholegrain options, including quinoa, blue cornmeal and teff.
- Updates to the diary category, including flexibility on package sizes and non-dairy substitution options such as plant-based yogurts, cheeses, and lactose-free milk.
- Canned fish.
- Canned beans.
- More flexibility in the amount of breastfeeding formula.
This change makes it easier for SNAP participants to access nutritious food, especially those with mobility challenges or other difficulties getting to a grocery store. Allowing delivery fees to be covered removes a key barrier that has prevented many low-income families from taking advantage of grocery delivery in the past.
As you can see, the new SNAP change for April comes to improve the conditions of all the families that depend on these tickets to feed themselves. The addition of new nutritious products has been very well received by the public, although there are still those who continue to ask for more funds to be allocated because they consider them insufficient. This is an opinion that we are hearing more and more.