The federal government announced an increase in food stamps for the second half of the year, but it seems that states have taken the opposite approach. Just when thousands of families were celebrating that they would receive a higher amount to buy food, they have received the worst news with the end of SNAP payments. Will you stop receiving them this June? Here’s what will happen.
The announced end of SNAP payments: How will it affect you?
Everybody would agree that the end of the expanded SNAP benefits is going to create a huge problem to millions of low income family across the country today. For many families, the extra aid has been a godsend, one that allows them to continue paying their bills and, most importantly, putting food on the table.
SNAP users will face cuts of about $90 per household member, this is according to assessments of the average supplies per state. For a family of four that would translate to a saving of $360 plus every month or even more. A reduction in this food assistance could lead to hard choices.
It will be worst felt by food insecure households since the impact of budget shortfall is most felt in the household food budget. It can be hypothesized that single parents, seniors struggling on fixed incomes, and families with children could be less likely to avoid hunger or compromised nutritional status in their families.
These states will stop sending SNAP payments: Do you live in one of them?
Many states do not have specific and definitive written policies in place for SNAP participation and coverage, and as the emergency declarations related to COVID-19 were lifted, it was anticipated that states would take back control over many SNAP policies.
Even as the federal government has set a latest dates regarding the extension of augmented SNAP benefits to June of the year 2024, numerous states have already decided on the termination of the above-preferred enhancements earlier.
The following states, according to official sources, will discontinue pandemic-era emergency allotments and revert to standard SNAP benefit levels:
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- Florida.
- Idaho.
- Iowa.
- Kentucky.
- Mississippi.
- Missouri.
- Montana.
- Nebraska.
- North Dakota.
- South Dakota.
- Tennessee.
- Wyoming.
It should however be noted that, these states stated that the early termination was as a result of bettering economic statuses as well as call for protracted prudent budgeting to the extent of excluding continuation of boosted SNAP payments.
SNAP payments are ending, but there is an alternative: The social benefits you can apply for
When communities are faced with poor agricultural produce that leads to the reluctance of selling produce to SNAP participants or even snatching the program completely, poor families will have no option than source food from other food assistance programs.
WIC is a program designed for providing food, health referrals, and nutrition public for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and children below the age of five years old. Based on the type of meal, eligibility depends on the household income, place of residence, and nutrition risk status.
Food banks and pantry is another essential outlet that is employed to empower clients struggling with food insecurity. Local food banks and Feeding America are two such organizations that help to obtain food through donations and purchase food for the needy population of a community.
Some nonprofit organizations have volunteer services that include delivering prepared meals to clients, for instance, Meals on Wheels, and local soup kitchens for homeless people and seniors among other categories of citizens. They also can be very helpful for people having difficulties with preparing meals.
As you can see, this change in SNAP payments has not been well received, and you can imagine that thousands of families will no longer receive an essential food assistance. However, some of the states we have seen have approved alternative social benefits, such as the stimulus checks, which, in this case, will see their amounts increased for June.
