How SNAP Boost Will Help Fight Hunger In New Jersey – Patch.com
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey residents struggling with food insecurity could see some much-needed relief after the Biden administration approved the largest increase to food assistance benefits in the history of the SNAP program.
Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps — officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — will increase, benefiting more than 42 million SNAP recipients.
The increase will replace a similar one ordered as a pandemic protection measure, The Associated Press reported. That benefit expires at the end of September.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on food insecurity in the United States, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks and pantries. The nonprofit organization estimates that in 2021, more than 42 million Americans — including 13 million children — won’t have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
While an increase in SNAP benefits won’t solve the problem, it’s a big step in the right direction, according to Feeding America.
“SNAP is America’s first line of defense against hunger,” the organization said in a statement. “We at Feeding America believe that continued improvement to SNAP is critical to achieving food security for our nation.”
Wondering how the increase will work and whom it will affect? Here’s what we know:
How many people could this affect in New Jersey?
The coronavirus pandemic has profoundly increased food insecurity and hunger, as many people lost their jobs in the pandemic-related lockdowns.
Before the pandemic, a range of five to nine percent of families in all New Jersey counties were food insecure, according to Feeding America.
But in 2020, food insecurity affected as many as 18 percent of families in places like Atlantic County, 16 percent in Cape May and Hudson counties and 15 percent in Essex County.
Who can forget the story of an elementary-aged girl on the Jersey Shore who started crying on her Zoom class last winter, telling her teacher and whole class she could not concentrate as she was so hungry and there wasn’t enough food at home? Before the pandemic, she got a free breakfast and hot lunch at school, but last year her school district was entirely virtual, all year long. Monmouth Co. Girl, 9, Confesses To Virtual Class She’s Starving
The girl’s mother lost her multiple jobs when all the restaurants shut down in March and she hadn’t been able to work since then. The family also did not qualify for SNAP or unemployment benefits.
How big is the SNAP increase by the Biden administration?
Food assistance benefits will rise an average of 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels, according to multiple reports. This means average monthly benefits, which were $121 per person before the pandemic, will rise by $36 under the new rules.
The increase is included in a revision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the cost to purchase groceries for a family of four and guides the way the government calculates benefits.
The increase will likely cost the federal government an additional $20 billion per year. The change does not require Congress approval, The AP reported.
Who is eligible for increased benefits?
The increased assistance is available to all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.
Some experts also argue the increase could also persuade people who have not yet enrolled in the program to do so, as the higher benefits might make them less hesitant to deal with the paperwork and more willing to deal with the stigma associated with receiving SNAP benefits.
When was the last time the program was updated?
The increase marks the first benefits adjustment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, first introduced in 1975.
The 2018 Farm Bill mandated a re-examination of the program’s math, The Washington Post reported. In a January executive order, the Biden administration asked the USDA to revise the plan to better reflect the modern cost of a healthy basic diet.
Upon examining the plan, the USDA decided to increase benefits after analyzing available data on four key factors: current food prices, what Americans typically eat, dietary guidance, and the nutrients in food items.
Some have argued that current benefits often force recipients to choose cheaper, less-nutritious food options or simply go hungry as funds run low toward the end of the month. An increase in monthly benefits could help SNAP recipients make more healthy choices at the grocery store, according to the USDA.
Is the increase permanent?
The increase is permanent.
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Feeding America serves 200 member food banks that serve and supply 60,000 food pantries, kitchens and meal programs around the country.
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“The Impact of Coronavirus On Food Insecurity”
Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, more than 42 million Americans won’t have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations.* Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.