Posted January 13, 20233:20 pm
By Sean McDonnell, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The end of a pandemic-era program to expand federal food stamp benefits in March will mean the loss of an estimated $23 million in Cuyahoga County, or nearly half of all the benefits now being distributed locally under the SNAP program.
County officials say 212,000 people, or about 1-in-6 county residents, will be affected. About $53 million in food stamp benefits under the SNAP program are distributed each month in Cuyahoga County, but that will drop to about $30 million per month in March, according to the county.
The cuts will range from $95 to hundreds of dollars per month, depending on family size and income, and are happening because the federal emergency allotment is ending as part of spending legislation passed last month.
Cuyahoga County’s Department of Job and Family Services has started sending letters to SNAP recipients to notify them about the reduction in benefits. The last emergency allotment payment will be in late February.
Kevin Gowan, deputy director of the county’s department of Job and Family Services, said the county has been working with community partners, like the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the United Way, preparing for the change.
“It is not something that is easily replaced,” Gowan said.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes referred to as EBT for Electronic Funds Transfer, got a boost from the federal government when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Many people were facing the threat of food insecurity. Programs that normally got food to people, like free lunch at schools or food pantries, were also forced to change the way they operated during the pandemic.
Logistically, extra SNAP dollars were seen as the easiest way to help people.
“SNAP is, regardless of whether you’re in a pandemic or not, the best tool for addressing hunger and for addressing food insecurity,” Gowan said.
The SNAP program has a minimum and maximum amount of benefits, based on family size. Under the federal program, every recipient got the maximum amount. And those who were already getting the maximum amount got an extra $95.
For example, many seniors on fixed incomes usually get the minimum of $23 a month. The federal money increased their benefit to $281.
A three-person household on average received $586 a month, according to the nonprofit Center for Community Solutions, but would get the $740 max under the federal program. Benefits are based on each family’s or individual’s income and expenses, so the reduction will vary from person to person.
People received their normal benefits early each month, and the second payment later in the month. Only the second payment at the end of the month will be stopping in March, the county said.
Resources for people with SNAP benefits:
* SNAP recipients who want to check their standard benefit amount can call 1-866-386-3071, or can use the self-service portal at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.
* Produce Perks (produceperks.org) is a program that helps people stretch SNAP dollars. For every $1 spent with SNAP or an EBT card, people will get another $1 to spend on fruits and vegetables. Up to $25 will be matched. It can be used at Dave’s Markets and some local farmers’ markets.
* The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has a “Find Food Near Me” online tool that helps people find food pantries, mobile pantries and hot meal sites.
* By calling 2-1-1, the United Way can connect people with resources and information about food, clothing, housing and other needs.
* The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless publishes a street card that lists available resources, which can be found at neoch.org/street-card.
To minimize the impact of the cuts, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland says SNAP recipients should make sure their county’s department of Job and Family Services are aware of all their expenses. These include recurring medical costs over $35 a month, childcare, transportation and any increases in rent or mortgage costs.
Source: cleveland.com - Cuyahoga County will lose $23 million in monthly SNAP benefits in March when federal program ends