THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS S.N.A.P, WILL BEGIN TO SEE INCREMENTAL INCREASES INTO 2022. THE BOOST IS SET TO BRING MORE THAN ONE POINT FOUR BILLION DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING TO NEW YORK STATE. GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL, IN A STATEMENT ON NEW YORK STATE GOVERNER’S WEBSITE, CALLED THE INCREASE A VICTORY, SAYING QUOTE, THIS LONG-OVERDUE INCREASE IN BENEFIRTS WILL GIVE HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE THE PURCHASING POWER TO BUY NUTRITIOUS FOODS, WHICH IN TURN WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN HEALTHIER OUTCOMES.
“These changes come after a national poll found nine out of ten respondents had trouble continuing a healthy diet due to food prices. Now those on snap will see a regular increase that started last Friday of 36 dollars per month going into 2022.”
IN A STATEMENT TO NCC NEWS, TOPS MEDIA RELATIONS SPOKESWOMAN KATHLEEN SAUTTER COMMENDED THE INCREASE IN BENEFITS, SAYING QUOTE AT THE CORE OF TOPS MISSIONS IS COMBATING FOOD INSECURIITY AND THE INCREASE IN SNAP ALLOCATION WILL HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP OF HELPING FAMILIES GAIN ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOODS. THE INCREASE WAS A PART OF A BILL PASSED IN 2018, THAT FORCED THE USDA TO LOOK INTO FOOD PRICES NATIONWIDE, THE TYPICAL AMERICAN DIET, AND ALSO DIETARY INFORMATION. THE CONCLUSION, THE OLD BENEFITS WERE AROUND 21 PERCENT LOW THAN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET. NOW DESPITE 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE WHO ARE ON SNAP BENEFITS, NO ONE PERSON ON SNAP BENEFITS WAS WILLING TO TALK TO ME FOR THIS STORY, HIGHLIGHTING THE STIGMA THAT STILL SURROUNDS THESE BENEFITS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SNAP, OR TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY, VISIT THE ONONDAGA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES WEBSITE. PETER TILMONT, N-C-C NEWS.
SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC NEWS)– The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) began its progressive increase October 1st. The benefits increased by $36, and will increase from $680 to $835 by 2022. The effort will bring more than $1.4 billion to the state in federal funding.
Governor Kathy Hochul in a statement on the Governor’s website said, “This long overdue increase in benefits will give households across New York State the purchasing power to buy nutritious foods, which in turn will ultimately result in healthier outcomes.”
The changes were prompted by two factors. A national poll found nine out of ten respondents on S.N.A.P. had trouble continuing a healthy diet due to food prices. A bill passed in 2018 that forced the USDA to look into Food Prices nationwide, the typical American diet, and also new dietary information. The conclusion was reached that the old benefits were not sufficient to maintain a healthy diet.
In a statement to NCC News, Tops Media Relations spokeswoman Kathleen Sautter commended the increase in benefits, and said, “At the core of Tops mission is combating food insecurity and the increase in S.N.A.P. allocation will help bridge that gap of helping families gain accessibility to healthy and affordable foods.”
Also signed into law, the Restaurant Resiliency Program, a $25 million program that allows people with S.N.A.P. to purchase food at restaurants while also providing relief funding to those businesses. For more information on the program click here.
