The adequacy of food stamp benefits has long been a question.
#FOOD STAMPS BENEFITS HOW TO#
“A lot has changed in 15 years,” Vilsack said, stressing that most families these days don’t spend a lot of time preparing food from scratch – one of the factors in the plan prior to the revision.Īs it re-evaluated the plan, the agency looked at how to empower cost-conscious, struggling families to make “pretty good” choices that last an entire month, rather than three weeks of the month, Vilsack said. And it added a “modest” increase in calories. It also uses purchasing data collected from stores, rather than self-reported by households, to reflect the current price of foods. It takes into account changes in the types of food people buy now, including pre-cut frozen vegetables, canned beans versus dried and fresh orange juice instead of frozen concentrate.
For instance, the revised plan now includes more fish and red and orange vegetables to align with the latest dietary guidelines recommendations.
#FOOD STAMPS BENEFITS UPDATE#
The update considered four key factors identified in the farm bill – current food prices, what Americans typically eat, dietary guidance and nutrients in food, the agency said. RELATED: Federal spending on food aid up 50% but hungry Americans say it’s not enough Food stamp benefits cost $60.4 billion in fiscal 2019, before the pandemic swelled enrollment and prompted lawmakers to enhance assistance. The new Thrifty Food Plan will add about $20 billion to the program’s cost, said Vilsack, adding that Congress did not specify that the revision had to be cost-neutral. In addition to families with children, many food stamp recipients are disabled Americans or senior citizens on fixed incomes, he noted on a call with reporters Monday. And the additional money families will spend on groceries helps grow the food economy, creating thousands of new jobs along the way.” “Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs, and more. “A modernized Thrifty Food Plan is more than a commitment to good nutrition – it’s an investment in our nation’s health, economy, and security,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Including the annual cost of living adjustment, which is based on food price inflation and kicks in every October, the average monthly benefit will jump to $169 per person, the agency said. They received $121 per person before the coronavirus pandemic. Under the revision, which is permanent, beneficiaries will see a $36 hike in average monthly benefits. The then-Republican-led Congress ordered the agency to re-evaluate the plan by fiscal 2022 – and every five years thereafter. The update comes as part of a USDA review of the food stamp program required under the 2018 Farm Bill. Republican lawmakers, however, are already questioning the revision and its increased cost. The plan estimates the cost of groceries needed to provide a budget-conscious diet for a family of four. The boost, which advocates say is long overdue, stems from an update to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines the benefit amounts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the formal name for food stamps. Food stamp benefits will jump 27% above pre-pandemic levels, on average, starting in October – the largest increase in the program’s history, the Biden administration announced Monday.
0 kommentar(er)
