INDIANAPOLIS — Food stamp benefits will soon jump 27 percent above pre-pandemic levels.
The change comes a month before a temporary increase was set to expire.
For Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, the program has been a lifeline.
"It was life or death," said Veronica Bedico. "We were either going to starve or we were lucky enough to qualify for SNAP benefits."
The Department of Agriculture said under the permanent revision will add an average of $36 dollars per person. That brings the new benefit amount to $157 monthly per person.
The USDA said their priority is making sure it reaches those who need it most.
"Making sure we are meeting the needs of families with very young children. That's just critically important for today and for our future," said USDA's Stacy Dean.
The pandemic sparked a jump in food stamps participation. The USDA says about 42 million people were enrolled in the program in May, up from nearly 37 million in February 2020.
Those who rely on federal assistance say the extra help has gone a long way to helping them put food on the table, especially with inflation and the rising cost of groceries.
"I am a real person who had a real job, and now I need help so that I can provide for my children during this hard time," said Bedico.
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