SNAP benefit recipients will receive less beginning in March

All 25,000 Boulder County residents who are currently enrolled to receive SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, benefits can expect at least a $90 reduction in March.

Benefit recipients will also receive only one issuance per month, according to the Boulder County Department of Human Services website, a step down from two issuances per month.

“Households enrolled in SNAP have been receiving two issuances of benefits each month as part of the pandemic-era SNAP max allotment. The first has been the household’s normal benefit amount, and the second has been the additional amount to bring the total for the month to the maximum possible benefit they could receive,” said Jim William, county spokesperson. 

SNAP benefits were expanded in March 2020 by Congress to provide extra money to low-income families during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These extra funds were intended to last through the pandemic.

As the crisis with the pandemic wanes, the federal government changed its policy, resulting in the rollback of the extra funds.

Boulder County issued over $5 million in benefits to an estimated 25,000 residents per month during the health emergency. Beginning in March, it will have about $1.8 million per month less to distribute to the same number of people.

“The state expects SNAP benefits reductions to average about $90 per month per person enrolled in the program,” Williams said.

Boulder County encourages participants to prepare for the SNAP reduction by exploring additional resources.

“This return to previous SNAP benefit levels will likely have a significant impact on many households,” said Susan Caskey, Director of the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services, which administers SNAP across the county. “Every family and every person should be able to get adequate nutrition in Boulder County, and as part of a network of organizations working to end hunger, we and our partners have a number of actions and tools we want to share with people who might struggle from the reduction of their food assistance.”

In addition to other resources, the county offered tips to help households through the transition.

• If able, roll over EBT food assistance benefits to the next month. This may help “cushion” the impact of the reduction in benefits.
• Stock up on non-perishable items now, while households have the additional benefits. See information in English at boco.org/StockYourPantry and in Spanish at www.boco.org/ComoAbastecerSuDespensa
• Stretch food ingredients and plan to use them in more than one meal. This helps to save money and reduce food waste. Click for more tips: See information in English at boco.org/StretchingIngredients and in Spanish at www.boco.org/ComoHacerRendirSusIngredientes.
• Consider freezing produce to make fruit and vegetables last longer. See information in English at boco.org/FreezeMoreWasteLess and in Spanish at www.boco.org/CongelaMasDesperdiciaMenos
• Look at the Unit Prices to compare similar products at the grocery store. See information in English at boco.org/UnitPrices and in Spanish at www.boco.org/PrecioPorUnidad.