The most significant anti-hunger program in the country, SNAP, offers low-income households crucial assistance with food purchases.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that 41 million Americans received assistance through SNAP on average in 2021.
SNAP Payment Delay Issues And Concerns
However, some states are currently not paying users on schedule, and others may potentially be in danger of losing their benefits.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Georgia failed to pay thousands of SNAP participants in May, according to state public data.
In May, 46,234 applications, or almost 63%, were postponed. One SNAP participant claimed they requested to renew their benefits about two months ago and haven’t received any food benefits since March on the Facebook page of the state Department of Human Services, which administers the program.
The processing of SNAP benefit applications is expected to take 30 days.
We are working as quickly as we can to process all applications and renewals, and we are actively hiring to fill positions so that we can serve our clients more quickly, but we are also constrained by federal rules and requirements, which prevent us from streamlining this process, according to Kylie Winton, a spokesperson for DHS.
According to proposed legislation, SNAP users nationwide could lose their benefits by 2025.
Read more: EBT Cards And Restaurant Meals Program Access For SNAP Recipients
Implications Of The Debt Ceiling Bill
A bill to suspend the debt ceiling was signed into law by President Joe Biden, but it also altered the employment requirements for senior citizens.
Currently, SNAP requires adults 18 to 49 to work at least 20 hours per week in order to be eligible for food stamps for more than three months out of every three years.
According to the CBPP, this might result in 750,000 older persons (aged 50 to 54) losing access to food assistance.
The new SNAP adjustments do not apply to veterans, children growing out of foster care, or the homeless, according to WFTV.
Read more: SNAP Benefits 2023: Altered Eligibility Criteria In Light Of The Debt Ceiling Agreement