Governor Hochul announces $234 Million in additional food assistance for August
Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced on Monday that an additional $234 million federal funding will be allocated for all recipients enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of August, a release said.
“No New Yorker should face the prospect of not being able to provide adequate food to feed their household,” Hochul said. “These added benefits help to alleviate this aching concern for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families still struggling to make ends meet amid the ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The funding will allow for the maximum level of food benefits for all recipients of SNAP benefits. Even those near or at the maximum benefit level — $835 for a family of four — will still receive a supplemental payment of at least $95, the release said.
The state’s office of Temporary and Disability Assistance says they have been issuing these emergency supplemental benefits since April 2020 for families with SNAP receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount.
The agency added that even though the state’s emergency declaration expired in June 2021; they have been working with the federal government to secure funding for all SNAP households.
“The impact these maximum benefits can have on a food-insecure household cannot be overstated. These benefits provide a critical stopgap struggling individuals and families can use to make ends meet and put healthy, nutritious food on the table,” New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said.
Washington Heights Rep. Adriano Espaillat praised the move..
“SNAP is the most effective tool we have to fight back against the hunger epidemic that’s plaguing communities around our state and the nation,” Espaillat said in a statement. “I commend Governor Hochul on today’s announcement.”
New York City reisdents can expect to receive their benefits through their existing Electronic Benefit Transfer cards between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19. New Yorkers outside the five boroughs should recieve the additional benefits between Aug. 16 and Aug. 29.
