Supplemental SNAP benefits end

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

For the past three years, SNAP recipients have received extra pandemic-related benefits. But, as part of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, those extra benefits ceased at the end of February.

The SNAP emergency allotments allowed families to receive the maximum SNAP amount for their household size with a minimum supplemental allotment of $95.

According to data from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, there are 462,144 Louisiana households featuring a combined total of 936,112 people receiving SNAP benefits. 88,807 households featuring 169,796 people in the Orleans region (Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes) receive SNAP benefits.

The rollback will result in a loss of $770 million in benefits to Louisiana residents over the remaining ten months of 2023.

Market Umbrella – the organization that operates the Crescent City Farmers Market – runs a Market Match program which provides an unlimited dollar-to-dollar match for SNAP participants at local farmers markets. Kasey Davis, the director of healthy food access programs, said she has seen an increase in SNAP shoppers at local markets recently.

Davis expressed some frustration that the supplemental SNAP benefits ended at a time when Americans are feeling a financial squeeze due to inflation.
“This hypothetically makes sense, but currently the price of food is so high people will have to stretch fewer dollars further,” Davis said.

The DCFS is encouraging all SNAP households to report any changes in their household size, income, and/or expenses because changes in those could result in an increase in their benefits.

SNAP households with unmet food needs are encouraged to reach out to religious organizations, LouisianaWIC.org, and food banks to see what assistance can be offered.

One food pantry available to those who might struggle after the rollback is the Sankofa market, located at 5200 Dauphine Street in the Lower 9th Ward for New Orleans residents.

Cheryl Brickley, community health ambassador for Sankofa, said their food pantry serves approximately 400-500 a month and she expects those numbers to increase with the recent rollback of SNAP benefits. She said she has spoken with elderly customers who now receive as little as $23 a month and she worries for their mental health as well as their physical health.

“It breaks our heart to see people go through that,” Brickley said. “People, especially elderly people, can get so depressed going through this.”

Residents can also call 2-1-1 to receive free assistance in connecting with appropriate resources in the community. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with translation services available in many languages.

This article originally published in the March 6, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.