Starting October 1st SNAP recipients will see a roughly $36 average increase to their monthly benefits. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard said this means an extra 435 million dollars in benefits will be headed to Louisiana. This comes after the Biden Administration’s USDA reviewed recent cost of living increases and determined that the current level was far too low to support a healthy diet.
“For families who are in poverty, who need food benefits, it’s a big deal,” said Howard.
According to the Associated Press food stamp benefits have gone up 25% since the pandemic’s start.
$36 might not sound like much to some but Howard said it can make a world of difference for Louisianans who are living in poverty.
“That’s a significant enough increase that it is extra days worth of meals that they can purchase for themselves and their families,” said Howard.
The AP reports this is the single largest increase in the program’s history.
“Usually it is $7 dollars, $8 dollars, usually less than 15 dollars definitely, so to see that it is going up $36 on average, that is a pretty big jump,” said Howard.
Recipients won’t have to do anything to receive the increase, it will be automatically included when they receive their monthly benefits.