Enhanced benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which played a key role in relieving poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic, are ending in April in Texas.
(Jonathan Weiss/Dreamstime/TNS)
Houston Chronicle
Kennedy Sessions, Chron
This means low-income Texans who are SNAP recipients will see a decrease in additional food benefits on their Lone Star Cards. According to the Texas Health and Human Services website, the Lone Star Cards are similar to credit cards and are used to help people purchase the food they need to buy for good health.
More than 3.7 million Texans who use food stamps in the state will lose at least $95 monthly on their Lone Star cards. The average household could see a drop of $212 per month.
Texans who have questions about their monthly amount can log into their account at YourTexasBenefits.com or the mobile app on the Case Details. SNAP users can also call 2-1-1. SNAP recipients are also eligible to buy their food online—the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided a list of eligible retailers for SNAP payments here.
The dissolution of the federal program comes at the same time the country wrestles with rising costs, especially in groceries.
“We have the highest inflation in 40 years, we are estimating that food costs are going to continue to rise over the next year at 8.6%, and most people that are eligible for SNAP are not ones that are seeing 8-10% raises,” CEO of the West Texas Food Bank Libby Campbell told Texas Tribune reporter Emma Williams.
Houston Food Banks and food pantries are also available to help any residents struggling to afford food. A list of local food pantries and food banks is linked here.