SNAP emergency allotment is going to be over soon. It was during the pandemic when the Federal government decided to increase the amount of this food benefit. Food stamps became essential during that period.
This extra money helped American families overcome a very difficult situation. Besides, as it had not been canceled, low-income families used SNAP cheques to cope with the skyrocketing inflation.
According to Feeding America, which is certainly the largest charity that works to end hunger in the USA, up to 34 million people face hunger in the USA. What is more, among them 9 million are children.
What is the main change to SNAP benefits?
Before the pandemic, SNAP cheques were 200 dollars on average. However, after the extra benefit came into effect, people could earn at least 95 dollars more. This emergency allotment amount is a lot of money for needy families.
Bear in mind that inflation has not been so high in many years. Therefore, SNAP cheques and the extra amount is more necessary than ever before. Food banks are receiving more people than in previous years.
These charities now fear that once the extra bonus is over, more people will go to ask for food support. Making the SNAP food benefit lower will increase people’s food insecurity.
How big can this reduction be?
It will depend on the personal situation of each SNAP beneficiary, but some of them may get up to 30% or even 40% less. Remember that this emergency extra money was already over in other states.
Rural areas rely more on SNAP cheques, thus, people living there will be the ones that suffer the most from food insecurity. Food banks caanot cope with this high demand though. For example, take into account the 95-dollar reduction, this is an amount food banks cannot provide each single SNAP beneficiary.
People’s health is at risk if they are not properly fed. Food banks rely on donations and they also have to tackle the high prices of inflation, so they are able to have less food than before. Fewer people can contribute to these donations because they face higher mortgages, more expensive food, and services. Let us hope the situation improves to avoid more suffering and people do not need SNAP benefits.