Newsbreak: Food Insecurity Looms as Pandemic-era Emergency Allotments End for SNAP Recipients in March

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is commonly known as food stamps, helps low-income Americans supplement their household’s monthly food budget. The program issues payments according to each state’s monthly schedule. SNAP is the most important anti-hunger program in the United States, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture pays for the full cost of SNAP benefits while splitting the cost of administering the program with each state and territory.

March’s payment will be sent on the same date as previous months, depending on the recipient’s state SNAP schedule. However, according to a GOBankingRates report on February 28, 2023, many SNAP recipients will receive lower payments this month as the last pandemic-era emergency allotments were issued in February. Those who qualify for the extra money will see their monthly payments reduced by $95 or more, according to the report from GOBankingRates.

SNAP benefits are deposited monthly into recipients’ SNAP accounts, which are linked to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. EBT cards work like debit cards and can be used at the checkout in grocery stores, major retailers, and other outlets. Eligible foods can also be purchased online at participating retailers, depending on the recipient’s state.

The USDA has monthly payment schedules for states and territories on their website. Payment dates vary by state, based on factors such as SNAP case numbers or Social Security numbers. Alaska has a unique schedule for paying all recipients on the first day of every month.

To get SNAP benefits, applicants must meet resource and income limits and apply in the state they reside in. Applicants can apply through their state’s SNAP office or website. The USDA provides a tool to locate local SNAP offices.