In December 2020, Congress passed the latest Covid relief package, which expanded food benefit programs allocating $13 billion to SNAP.
The relief package:
- Provides a temporary increase in individual monthly SNAP benefits by 15% for six months, through the end of June 2021.
- Excludes unemployment compensation from being counted as income for the purposes of calculating SNAP benefits and eligibility.
- Provides college students access to SNAP by temporarily waiving student work requirements if students (1) are eligible for federal or state-funded work study programs during the regular school year or, (2) have an expected family contribution (FEC) of $0 during the current academic year.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of families so they can purchase healthy food. It is the largest program working to fight hunger in the United States.
If you’re interested in helping your clients apply for SNAP benefits or in learning more about SNAP Outreach at Second Harvest, download the SNAP Partner Manual for further information.
If you are interested in becoming a SNAP Outreach Partner, contact Kate Pearce at kate.pearce@secondharvestmidtn.org or 615-782-2071.
