As part of the latest COVID-19 relief package, Congress voted to for everyone on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Starting this month, everyone on the program will get a 15% increase in their monthly benefits through June.
This is the that Congress has voted to increase SNAP benefits. But the first time, the people who were most in need didn鈥檛 get an increase because they were already getting the maximum benefit. Those households will get more SNAP benefits now.
Adam Morgan at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank estimated it鈥檒l be an extra $30 a month per person.
鈥淚t can help a parent eat while they鈥檙e also trying to make sure their kids eat,鈥� Morgan said.
The increase in SNAP benefits, plus an additional , should help reduce , said Stacy Dean at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
鈥淓vidence from the Great Recession was that increasing SNAP absolutely reduced food insecurity for the households who got the benefit,鈥� Dean said.
The hunger relief organization that around 50 million people experienced food insecurity in 2020.