Changes to SNAP Benefits

SNAP UPDATES ARE COMING IN MARCH, 2023
 
You may have heard about some upcoming changes to SNAP benefits. Let's take a quick look at what SNAP benefits are, what's changing, and how that may impact you.  
 
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  It's part of a federal nutrition program to help low-income households purchase food. SNAP provides a monthly benefit that helps families and individuals buy the groceries they need to eat and stay healthy. The benefit is based on income, resources, and the number of individuals in the household. 
 
Since the pandemic's start in March 2020, Colorado SNAP households have been getting extra monthly benefits. These additional benefits are called "emergency allotments."   Most households have been getting this on top of their regular SNAP benefits. Congress authorized these emergency allotments, but they are temporary and will end in March. February will be the last month that households will receive an emergency allotment.  
 
This change may have a significant impact on some households. Here are some common tips on how to prepare for the upcoming reduction: 
 

• Roll over unused SNAP benefits to the next month. Unused benefits can remain on EBT cards for up to nine months to help soften the impact of the reduction in benefits. 
• Stock up on non-perishable items now while you have the additional benefits.
• Check out Eat Better Together - a website that has lots of tips on making nutritious meals on a budget and discovering tasty new ways to serve fruits and veggies.

 
Aging Resources plans to help offset these additional costs to Douglas County older residents in the following ways:
 

• We will add extra shuttle trips to SECOR CARES, a local free food market where you can get fresh and frozen food twice each month.
• Shuttle trips to Help and Hope to grocery shop or to visit their thrift shop at no charge.
• You can sign up for our Help at Home program to receive three nutritious and tasty meals per week in partnership with Nourish Meals on Wheels. These meals are delivered to your door by our volunteers.

 
If you have further questions about any of our programs or want to receive information on food resources, give us a call and speak to one of our aging experts.

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Author

Conor McCarthy