On Wednesday, a pandemic-era policy that increased the amount of food stamp benefits received by low-income families is set to expire, leaving over 30 million people across 35 states with reduced benefits.
The emergency legislation enacted by Congress nearly three years ago allowed participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to receive the maximum monthly benefit regardless of income. The policy helped to keep food insecurity at bay and cut poverty rates to a record low. However, with inflation remaining high and other pandemic-era programs ending, the lapse in benefits is expected to increase hunger nationwide, leaving food banks bracing for a surge in demand.
Advocates predict that shifting the cost from the federal government will now shift the burden onto states and counties, charitable organizations, and households themselves. Experts say that the expiration of this policy is likely to have an adverse impact on vulnerable communities, leaving them to cope with even less.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
