Poli Alert Political & Civics
Related Articles
The Biden Administration announced on Monday that food stamp benefits would be increased indefinitely by about 27% in October.
The increase in benefits to the food stamp program, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is the largest increase in the history of the program.
The Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the cost of groceries, was recently updated. The plan was last reviewed in 2006. Before adjusting the plan, the agency researched current food prices, what Americans typically eat, dietary guidance, and the nutrients in food.
People that receive SNAP benefits will see a $36 increase per person in monthly benefits.
“A modernized Thrifty Food Plan is more than a commitment to good nutrition — its an investment in our nation’s health, economy, and security,” Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, said. “Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs, and more. And the additional money families will spend on groceries helps grow the food economy, creating thousands of new jobs along the way.”
The Secretary of Agriculture says that the adjusted Thrifty Food Plan will add $20 billion to the program’s cost.
“A lot has changed in 15 years,” Vilsack said.
“If the goal of the program is to provide supplemental nutrition assistance to folks and if the goal of the program is to make sure that have access to healthy choices, the numbers are what the numbers are,” Vilsack said. “We think it accurately reflects the real world.”
More than 42 million Americans were receiving SNAP benefits in May. Congress increased benefits by 15% through the Coronavirus relief package. The temporary increase is set to end in September. Americans will receive $251 when the Thrifty Food Plan adjustment becomes effective in October.
“The updated Thrifty Food Plan better reflects the way families live today, where working households do not have unlimited hours to prepare food from scratch and modern dietary guidelines advise a wider variety of foods, particularly leafy greens and lean proteins, which can be more costly,” Lisa Davis, senior vice president at Share Out Strength, said.
