NEW YORK – Federal Emergency Supplemental Pandemic-Era Assistance that provided additional assistance of at least $95 per month for food costs to households receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP, its acronym in English), ends on March 1 after almost three years.
Governor Hochul said the additional aid provided monthly for the past three or so years to help New Yorkers deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic was last provided in February due to the modifications prescribed by the law of 2023, which has been 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. “When these emergency supplemental benefits end, 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 assistance leaves thousands of New York families affected as they will not receive this additional SNAP benefit. February was the last time they received that extra $95.
“For us it’s a very important help, I myself am unemployed, for me it’s a great and very important help and I hope it continues,” said Leonicio Molina, a resident of the Bronx. , worried at Telemundo 47.
After aid ends, New York City organizations fight hunger and elected officials demand more SNAP money.
“Here in New York, we need to put money in to increase SNAP money to help all the people who are losing their funds and to make sure people have money to eat,” said Congresswoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas.
An estimated 1.6 million New Yorkers will be affected by the loss of an average of $95 per month in benefits.
For his part, in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy has taken steps to soften the blow by increasing the minimum benefits of the SNAP program. New Jersey SNAP recipients will receive at least $95 of their monthly benefits after the federal government’s emergency benefits end in March. This is thanks to the fact that Governor Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed a bill that increases the amount allocated.