NEW YORK — Pandemic-era emergency federal extra assistance that provided extra help of at least an extra $95 per month for food costs to households benefiting from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). its acronym in English), comes to an end on March 1st after almost three years.
Governor Hochul said the extra aid given monthly for the past three years or so to help New Yorkers weather the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic was last given in February due to changes prescribed by the Appropriations Act. Acts of 2023, which was adopted by Congress late last year.
“In addition to SNAP, these monthly benefits have proven invaluable to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers facing food insecurity during the pandemic,” Governor Hochul said. “Upon the end of these emergency supplemental benefits, we will continue to focus our efforts on protecting New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves and their families by expanding the criteria and maximizing assistance through SNAP.”
The end of this aid leaves thousands of New York families affected because they will not receive that additional SNAP benefit. February was the last time they received that extra $95.
“For us this is a very important help, I myself am unemployed for me it is a great and very important help and I hope this continues,” said Bronx resident Leonicio Molina with concern to Telemundo 47.
After aid ends, New York City organizations are fighting hunger and elected officials are calling for an increase in SNAP money.
“Here in New York we have to put the money to increase SNAP money to help all the people who are losing their funds and make sure that people have money to eat,” said Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas.
An estimated 1.6 million New Yorkers will be affected by losing an average of $95 per month in benefits.
For his part, in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy took action to soften the blow by increasing the minimum benefits of the SNAP program. New Jersey SNAP recipients will receive at least $95 in their monthly benefits after emergency allocations from the federal government end in March. This thanks to the fact that Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill on Wednesday that increases the amount allocated.
