Floridians begin receiving increased food stamp benefits
TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist today announced that individuals and families receiving food stamps will receive additional monthly benefits beginning today, April 1, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This legislation increases the amount families can receive from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
Most families on SNAP will see their benefits go up by about $20 per family member. For example, a three-person household receiving $250 in SNAP benefits in March will receive $313 starting in April. The minimum allotment for one- and two-person households will increase from $14 to $16. The extra benefits will be added automatically to clients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, and clients do not have to take any additional action to initiate the benefit. Clients can visit “My ACCESS Account” on the www.myflorida.com/accessflorida Web site to see how the increase has affected their benefits.
The extra benefits can be used to buy food at local grocery stores. Studies show that every $5 in SNAP benefits generates $9.20 in the local economy. In addition, SNAP also offers nutrition education to help families learn to choose healthy food on a budget and to be more active. The Department of Children and Families works with the University of Florida to provide nutrition education in about 40 Florida counties. Nutrition education is provided through schools, senior centers, nutrition programs for Women, Infants, and Children and libraries.
From April 2007 to February 2009, the number of Floridians eligible for SNAP has increased from 1.2 million people to more than 1.8 million people, a 54 percent increase. This increase means that about one in 10 Floridians are currently receiving food stamps. Calls to the ACCESS customer information phone line are also on the rise. In February 2009, there were 2.07 million calls to the call centers, up from 1.22 million calls received in February 2008.
Gov. Crist looks forward to working with the Legislature to obtain the necessary approval. For more information about Florida’s use of the federal recovery dollars made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit www.FlaRecovery.com.