ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Changes are quickly approaching for families who have been receiving additional food and nutrition services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) says families enrolled in Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), better known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or “food stamps,” have gotten extra benefits each month since March 2020 or after due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. February 2023 is the last month these families will receive these extra benefits, called “emergency allotments” or “maximum supplements.” This is due to a federal change that will end emergency allotments for all states as of March 2023.
FEBRUARY MARKS FINAL MONTH FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY SNAP BENEFITS
In a press release, Asheville-based nonprofit organization Pisgah Legal Services says those no longer receiving additional emergency allotments of food stamps will reduce the total monthly amount by $95 or more per household.
According to NCDHHS, the average benefit per person per day will decrease from $8.12 to $5.45. They estimate that an average of 900,000 North Carolina households received FNS emergency allotments since March of 2020.
“We expect that thousands more people in Western North Carolina (WNC) will be experiencing food insecurity in the coming months with food costs rising and benefits decreasing," Pisgah Legal Services COO Jaclyn Kiger said in the release. "People living in poverty are struggling to feed themselves and their families now and it’s only going to get worse when benefits are cut significantly in March.”
Both Pisgah Legal Services and MANNA FoodBank encourage local people in need to take the following steps now:
Make Sure Your Contact Information is Current
Investigate All Available Resources
Make Sure You Claim Your Refund
Access Help Through the Healthy Opportunities Program
SNAP BENEFITS SET TO RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
Additional resources: