National Black Justice Coalition Celebrates Biden Administration’s Increase of SNAP Benefits
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Earlier today, the USDA released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief – will increase for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.
The reevaluation concluded that the cost of a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet is 21% higher than the current Thrifty Food Plan. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief – will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, or $1.19 per day, for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.
The announcement comes just days after the Household Pulse Survey found LGBTQ+ adults were nearly 2x more likely than non-LGBT adults to report living in a household where they didn’t have enough to eat in the past 7 days.
In reaction to the announcement, David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, issued the following statement:
“The Biden Administration’s changes to the way that SNAP benefits are calculated will result in the single largest increase in food assistance benefits in the history of the program, providing game-changing relief for millions of people living in food insecurity across the United States.
“Changes to the program reflect the simple reality that the cost of food, especially healthy food, has continued to rise, forcing people who rely on supplemental food assistance to choose less healthy options to feed themselves and their families.
“Changes are especially important for Black LGBTQ+/SGL people who are more likely to face employment discrimination, live in poverty, and rely on programs like SNAP to feed themselves and their families.
“We celebrate the Biden Administration taking this permanent action to make sure all people in the United States get the food they need to survive.”
