Food banks brace for more need as enhanced SNAP benefits end
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The director of a central Indiana food bank on Tuesday said the end of enhanced SNAP benefits will further burden families already struggling with inflation.
Marcie Luhigo, the executive director of the Midwest Food Bank’s Indiana branch, said some of the counties her organization serves already report a 28 percent increase in the amount of food various relief organizations need. She says that’s primarily due to rising gas and food prices. Luhigo said she expects the need to rise further still as enhanced SNAP benefits come to an end.
“There are so many people within our community that have jobs or they are elderly and they are on retirement but due to health care costs, due to inflation, their budget just doesn’t last the entire month,” she said. “And so it’s really important that food banks are able to get these large amounts of food.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, the federal government allowed states to suspend most of the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly referred to as food stamps. Beneficiaries were able to automatically receive the maximum allotment for the number of people in their household, currently $835 a month for a family of four. Luhigo said this encouraged people to apply who were eligible for the program but didn’t use it. Data from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration show the number of Hoosiers using the program rose from 566,000 in March of 2020 to 670,000 a month later before slowly drifting down to the current level of 623,000.
In early March, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation that wound down the public health state of emergency. This meant May was the final month for which SNAP users would receive enhanced benefits. FSSA spokesperson Jim Gavin said beginning with the first set of monthly SNAP benefits on June 5, users will again receive an amount based on their monthly gross and net income.
Luhigo said the return to pre-pandemic SNAP eligibility requirements will hit families with young children especially hard. She said those families often use SNAP the most and will lose the extra benefits right as school lets out, thus depriving their children of free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch until the end of summer. Luhigo said anyone having trouble filling their pantry should look in their area for food banks, soup kitchens and other sources of help and contact them.
Luhigo said anyone who wants to help should donate to food banks and food pantries. Midwest Food Bank does not directly provide food to families but is a major supplier for Indiana food pantries. Other resources include:
- Gleaners Food Bank
- Mid-North Food Pantry
- Northwood Christian Church
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank (Bloomington)
Gavin said Hoosiers in need can also call the state’s assistance line by dialing 211. Additionally, some townships provide food assistance as part of their relief services.
Check with your township trustee for details.