There is good news for Americans relying on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.
The Biden administration has approved a 25% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits beginning Oct. 1. The hike is $36.24 per person.
The change follows a review of the Thrifty Food Plan, which found the price to maintain a healthy diet was 21% higher than the last evaluation in 2006.
Costa Praises Increase
Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) hailed the increase, saying it was “long overdue” and is “critical to our most vulnerable citizens.”
Nearly 4.3 million Californians receive SNAP benefits, including 25% of those living in Costa’s 16th Congressional district.
“I fought to expand this program in the 2018 Farm Bill and I will keep fighting to ensure no American goes hungry,” Costa said in a news release.
The increase will benefit many other Valley residents as well.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14% of residents in the 22nd District represented by Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) receive SNAP benefits. An identical percentage receive SNAP in House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s Bakersfield-anchored district.
And, 22% of the households represented by David Valado (R-Hanford) are getting SNAP assistance.
