How SNAP Benefits Will Increase in 2022
If you’re a member of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or are interested in applying, it’s a good idea to understand how it works.
This article will go over how members could receive more benefits in 2022, so keep reading below to see how this could affect you.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA is responsible for evaluating the SNAP program to make any adjustments they see fit. Some good news is that the average SNAP benefit is set to increase across the board. For the first time in 45 years, a major upgrade to the program is coming.
If you need more information on how to apply, check your SNAP eligibility.
Four Key Factors
There are four main factors that went into the overhaul of SNAP: — current food prices, most popular foods in America, dietary recommendations, and vitamins/nutrients in foods.
Now let’s look at the program responsible for updating SNAP.
Thrifty Food Plan
The Thrifty Food Plan is one of four parts of the USDA’s development program to determine how much a healthy diet for an average family actually costs.
The other three parts of this program are The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans.
The Thrifty Food Plan is the most affordable one and it includes the overall cost of a nutritious diet that can feed a family of four.
Thrifty Food Plan Updates
The 2018 Farm Bill had a directive to the USDA to update the Thrifty Food Plan by 2022 and will continue to do so every five years. First introduced in 1975, the Thrifty Food plan was updated in 1983, 1999, and 2006.
SNAP Benefit Increases
Almost all households in SNAP will see an increase of about $12 to $16 per person each month.
The exact amount for individual families may be different, but states will apply these increases automatically. To get an exact amount of the benefit increase, visit the official website.
What Foods Are Included
In general, the Thrifty Food Plan is broken into different categories: poultry, dark green vegetables, and whole fruit. Together, these foods make up a healthy, cost-efficient diet that meets basic health standards.
How Household Size Determines Benefits
The USDA is in charge of the maximum benefit amounts for households.
They take into account the fact that it costs more per person to feed a smaller household than a large one. Therefore, the Thrifty Food Plan sets the maximum SNAP benefit amount for households of four people.
Final Word
No family should have to struggle with basic necessities like food, so if you’re in that situation now is a great time to see if you can enroll in SNAP. Check out the links above as soon as you can.