28 Mar SNAP Benefits Are Changing
The nearly two million Pennsylvanians receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are facing a steep cut in their access to food this month.
Pandemic-related SNAP emergency allotments provided by Congress are ending, causing average SNAP benefits to decrease by between $100 and $175 a month. At the same time, an increase in Social Security payments, which count as income for SNAP eligibility, is leading to an average decrease of $40/month in SNAP benefits for 249,000 Pennsylvania households and kicking an additional 5,000 to 20,000 households off the program altogether.
These combined decreases will lead to households having to make tough choices between food and other necessities. Many, including children and the elderly, will go to sleep hungry. The Family Promise Food Pantry is bracing to meet this challenge. If you’d like to help, there’s a list of the items we are always collecting at our website.
If you need to find a pantry, visit Philabundance or the Montco Anti-Hunger Network to access a list of pantries near you.