Personal Finance
SNAP benefits in 2023 to end extra cash for food benefits provided during the pandemic
![](https://personalfinancedefined.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/yahoo_default_logo-1200x1200.png)
Tens of millions of Americans in 32 states will see the pandemic boost to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits expire at the end of February.
That means less money to spend on food each month, even as inflation remains near 40-year highs.
At the start of the COVID-19 crisis when millions of people lost their jobs, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in 2020 to temporarily boost SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. to help low-income families.
The extra allotments were intended to expire when the pandemic ended. President Joe Biden reportedly intends to declare the end of the pandemic in May, and Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act to end the additional allotments.
Though the expiration of the supplemental benefits has been known, it’s still putting people on edge. The boost kept 4.2 million people out of poverty, according to a study from the Urban Insititute, a think tank.
Record credit card debt:Inflation leaves consumers financially stressed
Will SNAP supplement expire in every state?
Some states — Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming — have already stopped issuing pandemic-era SNAP emergency allotments, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In March, recipients in the remaining 32 states, plus Washington, D.C., Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will stop receiving the extra SNAP funds.
Expensive eats: You think food price inflation is easing? Try baking this chicken pot pie recipe.
How much will SNAP recipients lose?
Every SNAP household will see at least $95 a month less, but some will see reductions of $250 a month or more, according to the nonpartisan research and policy institute Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The average person will receive about $90 a month less in SNAP benefits, it said.
But with high inflation, especially for food, the loss could feel even worse.
“We’re trying to get the word out, so people know SNAP participants are going to see a reduction and it’s going to go back to what it was before the pandemic,” said Man-Yee Lee, spokesperson at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which supplies hundreds of food pantries. “That could make sense, except food prices are so high now.”
Online isn’t a SNAP: Federal government wants Americans to buy groceries online, but most people on SNAP can’t
Stretching dollars: Expired foods get new life from budget shoppers as inflation soars, but are they safe?
Who will be affected?
About 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits. Some have already been affected by earlier expirations, but others may feel it in this round. Expirations cover more states this time, 32, including some of the most populous like California, Illinois and Texas.
Some seniors may feel a double whammy. After receiving a 8.7% cost of living adjustment in January, the largest since 1981, some seniors already saw their SNAP benefits drop. That’s because the benefits are calculated using factors such as income, certain expenses and the number of people in your household. Social Security counts toward income.
Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pandemic era SNAP benefits end this month: Here’s what you should know
Read the full article here
![](https://personalfinancedefined.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/pf-logo.png)
-
Personal Finance5 days ago
Americans reveal their biggest financial regret about potential retirement
-
Investing6 days ago
Israel stocks lower at close of trade; TA 35 down 0.88% By Investing.com
-
Side Hustles6 days ago
5 Key Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Top Talent
-
Passive Income4 days ago
5 Ways to Push Past Your Comfort Zone
-
Make Money6 days ago
A Labor Day Salute to You — the American Worker
-
Personal Finance6 days ago
Fed interest rate cuts won't help your credit card debt
-
Passive Income6 days ago
Work Smarter with 12 Months of Microsoft 365 for Just $45
-
Side Hustles5 days ago
Don’t Wait to Fire That Toxic Client — It’s Vital For Your Business Health