As governors cancel COVID-19 disaster declarations, the payments to low-income families and individuals are falling. They also opt out from a federal program that allowed their states to receive dramatic increases in SNAP benefits. Also known as food stamps, this federal program allows them to withdraw from receiving any future federal programs. In response to the rising unemployment following the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture started offering this increased benefit in April 2020.
This means that, depending on how a state is governed, people and families in crisis may be eligible for different levels of food assistance.
The most aggressive national action was taken by Nebraska, which ended emergency benefits in July 2020 after the pandemic had erupted in July 2020. This move was made by Republican Governor Pete Ricketts. Pete Ricketts stated that it was necessary to show the rest of the nation how to return to normal.
Nearly a dozen other states have taken similar actions since then. Iowa is the latest to reduce benefits. In the coming month, benefits will also be reduced in Wyoming and Kentucky. The benefits have been reduced in Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee.
Republican leaders claim that the extra benefits were only intended to temporarily assist people who had been forced from work by the pandemic. They claim that now that the virus is under control, it is not necessary to pay higher wages at a time in which most businesses are having difficulty finding enough workers, the extra payments can be withdrawn.
The extra benefits are also a benefit to families who are in dire need, especially during a time when food prices have risen. The program provides at least $95 per monthly to the recipients, although some families and individuals may be eligible for small payments that can add hundreds of dollars each month.
If the federal government ends its public safety emergency, the entire program will be stopped. However, the Biden administration has not indicated an intention to do so.
Tara Kramer (45), of Des Moines was affected by the Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to stop emergency payments on April 1 resulted in Tara Kramer, 45, of Des Moines, losing her monthly SNAP benefits from $250 in March to $20. Kramer, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that can cause extreme pain, stated that the extra money allowed her to purchase healthier food, which made her feel better and helped her live a more active lifestyle.
Kramer stated, “My heart dropped.” “All the memories from the emergency allotment came back.”
Reynolds spokeswoman Alex Murphy said that the extra benefits were intended to assist people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Murphy also noted that there are over 86,000 job opportunities in Iowa, which is listed on the state unemployment website.
Kramer stated that she is unable to work and that sometimes getting out of her apartment is difficult.
Vince Hall is the national food bank network FeedingAmerica’s director of public policy. He said that ending the extra benefits does not reflect the fact that there has been no decline in food banks’ demand despite the pandemic.
The United States has seen wages rise and the national unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% in March. However, these gains were offset by an 8.5% inflation increase compared to last year. Many families are unable to afford enough food because of the rapid rise in food prices.
Hall stated that the COVID pandemic was giving way to a pandemic of hunger. We are in a real, serious struggle.
Feeding America represents 200 food banks. It reports that the demand for food is increasing at the same time as individual donations are decreasing and food prices rise. According to the organization, food banks in the country will spend 40% more on food purchases in the fiscal year ending in June 2022 than in the previous year.
Annie Ballan (51), a Nebraskan, was notified by Ricketts that she had decided to end her participation in the program. This reduced the SNAP payments she receives from almost $500 per month to $41. Both are disabled and have health issues.
Ballan stated, raising her voice in anger, “People have no food from the middle of the months to the end of each month.” This is the fault of the governor. He claims he loves Nebraskans and that Nebraskans make a great nation, but he has cut off our food.
Hall stated that the demand for food banks will increase as more states decrease their SNAP payments. Typically, food banks provide nine meals per meal.
Valerie Andrews (59), of St. Charles in Missouri said that the SNAP benefits she relied on for her husband fell from $430 a monthly to $219 after Missouri eliminated the extra payments. Andrews, a disabled woman, stated that she budgets carefully and regularly purchases food from a food pantry, but it is difficult.
She said, “We barely make it from paycheck to paycheck.” It’s quite difficult most of the times.
Officials from food banks and pantries stated that they will do all they can to meet the increased demand, but they cannot fully compensate for the decline in SNAP benefits.
Matt Unger, the director of Des Moines Area Religious Council network, food pantries in Iowa’s capital, pointed out that the cost of a 5-ounce chicken can at the pantry has risen from 54 cents in March 2019, to $1.05.
He said, “Costs just going through the roof.”
