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Here's What The Historic Increase In Food Stamp Benefits Could Mean For You
A sign alerts customers about SNAP food stamps benefits at a grocery store in New York City in Dec. 2019. SNAP benefits are getting a historic boost nearly two years later, under the Biden administration.
With all the developments in Afghanistan and Haiti, you may have missed this historic announcement out of Washington: The Biden administration has approved updates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), giving families who currently receive food stamps the largest single increase in benefits to date.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday released a reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to calculate SNAP benefits, based on changes to nutritional guidance, food prices and what Americans eat.
"A modernized Thrifty Food Plan is more than a commitment to good nutrition — it's an investment in our nation's health, economy, and security," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. "Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs, and more. And the additional money families will spend on groceries helps grow the food economy, creating thousands of new jobs along the way."
The Biden administration is working to strengthen the country's social safety net and has long aimed to increase food stamp benefits.
Click here to learn more about the Thrifty Food Plan and how it impacts food assistance.
This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
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