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President Biden approves biggest increase ever to food stamps

President Joe Biden approved the biggest increase ever to food stamps, or SNAP benefits.

News 12 Staff

Aug 19, 2021, 12:37 AM

Updated 1,210 days ago

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A boost is coming for people continuing to struggle during the pandemic.
President Joe Biden approved the biggest increase ever to food stamps, or SNAP benefits.
Starting in October, these food assistance benefits will go up by an average of 25% - or $36 - per family per month.
The average benefit, which was $121 before COVID-19, will increase to about $157.
Catholic Charities, a nonprofit that helps Westchester families apply to SNAP benefits, says while this boost is helpful it's still not quite enough.
"While that is a boost big boost to our clients and those that we serve, it doesn't quite meet the need…with the cost-of-living increasing year by year, unfortunately, that's just not enough for most families," says Esmeralda Hoscoy, of Catholic Community Services.
During the pandemic, all SNAP recipients got a 15% boost to their benefits, which stops at the end of September.
This new increase could impact as many as 42 million Americans - many of them Black and brown families.