Federal authorities have expanded SNAP emergency food assistance in response to recent severe weather, providing crucial support to residents facing food insecurity.
The expanded aid focuses on vulnerable groups, including seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have access to necessary nutrition during difficult times.
As reported by Newsweek, this expansion aims to address immediate needs and alleviate the strain on affected communities.
The program allows for temporary changes in eligibility and benefits, adapting to the urgent circumstances to better support those most in need without revealing the full scope or specifics of the locations involved.
The Impact of These Changes
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, helps low- and no-income families in the U.S. with grocery costs.
Both Kentucky and New Mexico, combined, serve over 1 million people through this program.
SNAP benefits play a vital role in providing food security to millions of Americans.
The recent expansions in Kentucky and New Mexico highlight the federal government’s responsiveness to crises, ensuring that vulnerable populations continue to have access to essential nutrition during times of need.
These changes are part of broader efforts to support communities affected by emergencies, from natural disasters to health-related challenges, ensuring that the program adapts to meet the evolving needs of those it serves.
Kentucky
In Kentucky, the federal government has temporarily relaxed SNAP rules to allow food stamp recipients to purchase hot meals in certain counties that were heavily impacted by recent severe weather.
The storms in May resulted in nearly 20 deaths and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure across the state.
These storms, which swept through the Midwest, caused power outages and destroyed hundreds of properties.
To increase access to food after these power outages, the USDA confirmed that SNAP recipients in 26 counties will be able to use their benefits for prepared warm meals at participating retailers through July 2.
The counties included in the D-SNAP expansion are:
- Adair
- Caldwell
- Calloway
- Casey
- Christian
- Clay
- Clinton
- Crittenden
- Cumberland
- Henderson
- Hopkins
- Jackson
- Knox
- Laurel
- Lincoln
- Lyon
- Marshall
- McCreary
- Pulaski
- Rockcastle
- Russell
- Trigg
- Union
- Wayne
- Webster
- Whitley
New Mexico
In New Mexico, a one-off benefit of $68 has been automatically loaded onto the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards of eligible SNAP recipients aged 60 or older with disabilities.
This extra food assistance aims to help the state’s most vulnerable residents, with 29,444 individuals benefiting from this additional support as of June 3.
Kyra Ochoa, deputy cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority, emphasized the importance of interdepartmental collaboration:
“Through this collaboration, we provided critical additional food support for important members of our communities. Using state general funds to create extra benefits for seniors and people with disabilities is a great example of how strong interdepartmental partnerships can better serve New Mexicans in need.”
Emily Kaltenbach, cabinet secretary at the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) in New Mexico, also praised the partnership:
“We are proud to once again partner with HCA to bring additional relief to New Mexico’s older adults and adults with disabilities. This boost reflects our shared commitment to ensuring New Mexicans have access to the nutritious food they need.”
The D-SNAP program in Kentucky will continue until July 2. In New Mexico, those with questions about the supplemental benefit can contact the Health Care Authority at 1-800-283-4465 for assistance.
