Good News! SNAP Benefits and Food Stamps – The Bill They Just Passed

If you’ve been concerned about the state of SNAP benefits since the Pandemic, you’ll be pleased to hear that the amount is being increased by more than 25 percent. But how do you get the new benefits? What does it mean for your Thrifty Food Plan? And what about the rules about work to receive your SNAP benefits? Read on for the latest updates.

SNAP benefits will rise more than 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels

The Biden administration has approved the most significant increase in SNAP benefits in history. The expansion will mean more money for 42 million Americans. While SNAP benefits have increased over the years, the purchasing power has not. The maximum benefit for a family of four will rise by almost $230 a month under the new policy. However, recipients must spend at least 30 percent of their income on food to receive their benefits. Moreover, more than a quarter of households exhaust their monthly benefits in the first week, and almost half do so by the second.

In addition to benefit increases, increasing SNAP benefits has also been associated with fewer cases of food insecurity. People who receive adequate SNAP benefits have lower risks of developing health conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and educational attainment. The increase in SNAP benefits will also strengthen the program as a source of economic stimulus. Each dollar spent on SNAP during a recession generates up to $1.80 of economic activity.

Temporary increase

Fortunately, there’s good news for the hungry. The bill the House passed extends SNAP benefits by three months. Last June, the Obama administration’s American Rescue Plan expired, but a bill passed in Congress will extend it until September 2021. The increase is significant: it’s over $100 a month for a family of four.

Republicans are not pleased with the SNAP benefits increase. Former Rep. Mike Conaway, who authored the 2018 bill, warned against unilateral overreach. Two Republican legislators have called for a watchdog review of the SNAP plan despite his concerns. Critics argue that the SNAP benefits are inadequate and leave many families food insecure.

To help those who depend on food stamps to survive, the new bill increased benefits by 25 percent. The increase will support all 42 million people on the food stamp program. The bipartisan legislation passed by the House and Senate is an essential step toward ending food insecurity. But a key question remains: How much will these new benefits affect you?

Work rules to get SNAP benefits

SNAP benefits can help you meet your basic needs, but you need to keep in mind the work rules to keep them. Most ABAWDs are not employed and do not report their income to the SNAP agency, but working increases their income. For example, a full-time job at $9 an hour would make a one-person household ineligible for benefits. Because of this, work requirements are a way to draw attention to unreported employment and encourage people to start working.

As a result, some states, including Kansas, Wisconsin, and Maine, have temporarily suspended the work rules for ABAWDs until 2020. The work requirements will be reinstated after the federal government lifts the public health emergency. Some states have enacted legislation to rescind SNAP work requirement waivers. While several states have introduced bills to eliminate the work rule, only a few states have adopted one.

Thrifty Food Plan re-evaluation

If you’re on a tight budget, you might be surprised to know that the new Farm Bill will increase your SNAP benefits and food stamps costs by $20 billion each year. The new farm bill will also create a temporary income guarantee for families with children, a measure critics say will undermine the will to work. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department is revising its Thrifty Food Plan to reflect the cost of an economical, essential diet today.

In October 2021, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program will increase your benefits by 15 percent. These benefits help families feed their children, buy healthy foods, and help move toward self-sufficiency. The increase is due to the reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan. This change will allow the program to reflect the cost of healthy food for families.