AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provide $229 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of March as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. The emergency February allotments are in addition to the more than $2 billion in benefits previously provided to Texans since April 2020, Abbott said.HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. The emergency March allotments are in addition to the more than $2.5 billion in benefits previously provided to Texans since April 2020.
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Recipients will also continue to receive a 15 percent increase in their total benefits, which will continue monthly until June 2021. This additional 15 percent increase and the emergency allotment amount should appear in recipients’ accounts by March 31.
Administered by HHSC, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1.6 million eligible low-income families and individuals in Texas. Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits.
“Providing emergency SNAP benefits is critical to our state’s ongoing COVID-19 response because it ensures that Texas families can continue to put healthy meals on the table,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the USDA for their continued partnership as we ensure access to healthy food for Texans in need.”
“We are proud of the work Texans do each day in fighting this pandemic and these additional food benefits will help SNAP recipients purchase healthy foods for their families,” said Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter.