Over the next two days, Minnesotans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will continue to receive their payments.
Residents in the North Star State receive their SNAP benefits between December 4 and December 13. Based on the final digit of a recipient’s case number, food stamps are distributed.
On Monday, SNAP benefits were supposed to be provided to those whose case numbers ended in 4 through 9, 0 and 1.
Benefits should be picked up by recipients whose case numbers end in 2 on Tuesday and by recipients whose case numbers end in 3 on Wednesday.
A maximum of $291 can be received by a single household, a maximum of $1,155 by a household of five, and a maximum of $1,751 by a household of eight. After eight people, a household can receive up to $219 per person. The most recent cost-of-living adjustments for 2023–2024 are the basis for these sums.
Approximately 435,900 Minnesotans, or almost 8% of the state’s total population, are SNAP recipients. Each household member pays $157 on average each month.
Every month, SNAP benefits are added back to an electronic benefit transfer card. The goal of food stamps is to be used at participating supermarkets, farmers markets, and online retailers to purchase healthy foods.
You should buy fresh food, snacks, groceries, seeds, and plants with the money. Benefits cannot be used to purchase any non-food household items, vitamins, live animals, alcohol, tobacco products, or prepared foods.
SNAP Application Delays Cause Concern: Addressing the Issues and Solutions in the Current Situation
Consistent delays continue to affect those who are eligible for SNAP benefits.
A non-profit said on Monday night that over 25% of applicants are impacted.
Vanessa Snyder stated that submitting an application without a timeline for acceptance is a waiting game she cannot afford to engage in.
Snyder remarked, “My monthly income is just $1,000.”
Snyder claimed that the majority of her income is used to pay her congestive heart failure bills and medical expenses.
Her application for SNAP benefits was never denied until 2023.
She claimed to be in dire need of information as the weeks stretched into months, and she has received no response regarding the renewal of her application.
“Over the past week, I’ve probably called every day, but 211. And they claimed to be running late,” Snyder remarked.
The following statement was released by the office of Governor Greg Abbott:
“HHSC is moving aggressively to reduce the backlog caused by increased strain on eligibility workers as they work to meet federal timelines for Medicaid redetermination. The majority of backlogged SNAP applications are from people who are applying for SNAP and another benefit program, such as Medicaid or TANF, which require workers trained in both programs to process the application. HHSC is moving 250 staff from other projects to focus on expediting these applications. Additionally, HHSC will be sending 600 new staff to Medicaid training, increasing capacity to process more of these combined applications.”
Twenty-six percent of Texas SNAP applications are delayed, sometimes for as long as six months, according to the nonprofit Every Texan.
The percentage must be less than 5% in order to comply with federal regulations.
“Approximately 150,000 applications were backlogged and awaiting processing, according to the most recent data we received,” said Rachel Cooper, the Every Texan Director of Health and Food Justice.
Cooper stated that reports from the Health and Human Services Commission provided them with the information.
They have been monitoring this data for many years.
“Her family is under a great deal of stress due to food inflation,” Rachel stated.
Executive Director and President of the San Antonio Food Bank, Eric Cooper, stated, “We’re really working hard to kind of brace for that swell of demand that comes from the holidays.”
According to Eric, the demand for it has already reached pandemic levels.
“The Snap Program doesn’t go as far as it used to in covering someone’s food needs, with the cost of food being as high as it is,” Eric remarked.
Those in snap limbo are facing difficult decisions as the holidays draw near.
“Every penny I have goes toward paying my bills and taking care of my health,” Snyder stated.
Here’s how to claim your food stamps
If your income is low, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps,” can help you pay for food.
Check if you are eligible to apply
An Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card is loaded with SNAP benefits each month, which you can use to make food purchases.
You must fulfill all state requirements, including income limits, in order to be eligible for SNAP benefits. In order to determine whether you are eligible for SNAP, states may also consider other resources, such as the amount of money in your bank account.
Speak with the state or local SNAP office to apply for assistance. You might be able to apply online, in person, by mail, or by fax, depending on your state. It’s possible that an interview is required prior to SNAP benefit approval.
Check your SNAP balance
SNAP benefits are issued on an EBT card in every state. To see how much money is still available on your EBT card:
- Examine the store’s receipt if you used your SNAP benefits to make a purchase. On your receipts, many stores will print your balance.
- See if your state provides a mobile application for managing your benefits. You can check your balance with many.
- Speak with the state SNAP office.
