Screen Shot 2020-07-02 at 12.20.50 PM.png

Looking for solutions journalism to republish in your news outlet under a Creative Commons license?

These stories are free for any newsroom to republish or re-air.

Georgia officials slowly roll out pandemic food stamp increases

Georgia officials slowly roll out pandemic food stamp increases

Georgia officials slowly roll out pandemic food stamp increases By Maya T. Prabhu, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution April 27, 2020


When Gov. Brian Kemp announced last month that Georgia’s more than 1 million food stamp recipients would get additional benefits to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, many expected those funds to appear automatically.

But state Division of Family and Children’s Services officials instead are rolling those additional benefits out during the last week of the month to avoid overwhelming grocery stores. 

“They do it in bursts so that retailers have a chance to restock,” DFCS spokeswoman Patrice Meadows said. “If everybody got it the same day, some communities wouldn’t be able to respond.”

Officials initially said the additional funds would be dispersed in April on the day benefits typically were received.

Under the pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, recipients have been granted the maximum amount allowed based on household size under federal guidelines for March and April. DFCS is also seeking approval to grant the additional benefit amount in May.

In all, about 433,000 households are receiving SNAP benefits this month.

GA Division of Family & Children Services@GADFCS

SNAP RECIPIENTS: If you were approved for SNAP after March 27, you can expect to receive March and April P-SNAP allotments based on this schedule. However, if you are approved for SNAP after April 18, qualified P-SNAP benefits may be delayed.

4

11:06 AM - Apr 13, 2020

Twitter Ads info and privacy

See GA Division of Family & Children Services's other Tweets

Under the guidelines, for example, a senior citizen who typically receives about $15 in monthly benefits through SNAP will qualify for the maximum $194 allowed to be given to a household of one. A federally-funded program, no state money is used for SNAP benefits.

SNAP recipients received their usual April benefit amount on the day their accounts are typically replenished. The additional amounts began being distributed on Saturday, with everyone receiving the higher benefit amount by  Friday. 

Money is being dispersed in batches based upon the recipient’s SNAP identification number, which can be found on the front of the electronic benefit transfer card.

How climate research continues during stay-at-home orders

How climate research continues during stay-at-home orders

COVID19: In Uganda, volunteers on bicycles are filling the gaps to deliver HIV drugs

COVID19: In Uganda, volunteers on bicycles are filling the gaps to deliver HIV drugs