Bill aims to increase SNAP benefits for New Yorkers

Source: News10

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)— The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, helps people with low incomes pay for groceries. Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas says with today’s food prices, more needs to be done to help struggling New Yorkers.

“Right now, the minimum amount for SNAP is $23 a month,” explained González-Rojas. “$23 doesn’t get us very far.”

She’s sponsoring legislation that would create a state SNAP minimum benefit program to help increase the amount a household would receive.

“My bill would require New York State to cover the balance between the minimum benefit and again—the lowest benefit is $23, to ensure that it at least gets to $100. And again that’s something where the state would make up the difference. Not every person on SNAP is at $23. It’s based on your family size and your income, but certainly $23 is not enough to address food insecurity in New York.”

This is something Price Chopper/ Market32 and Tops support, saying in a statement, “ When SNAP Emergency Allotments ended (back in March), households in need saw an average loss of $151 per month, some decreased to the minimum benefit of $23, which stands to jeopardize both nutrition security and public health.“

According to a recent report by the New York State Department of Health, approximately one in four adults in the state experience food insecurity.

“Some of the highest rates of SNAP applications have been in places like Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester in addition to New York City,” said González-Rojas.

The bill has bipartisan support in the Assembly. It is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Rachel May.