For almost three years, most people from Oregon who got Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), who also receive extra help each month on their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, will no longer get emergency food benefits starting in March. The said assistance was provided to aid families during the pandemic, but the Oregon Department decides to cut the assistance after February.
This was made possible after Congress recently passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill that doesn’t include the continued funding of the program.
However, this doesn’t mean that SNAP benefits end completely. Instead, the benefits will bring them back to what they were before the pandemic. Starting in March, the benefits will set go down by at least $95 each month for a single household and a decrease of $300 each month for a family of four.
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Oregonians who receive SNAP are encouraged to prepare for this change in the next months.
ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresh said, “We know that many rely on these additional emergency food benefits to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families.” The director added that as Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19, he knows that without these emergency food benefits, some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger. So, he encourages them to contact partners at 211 Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.
ODHS said Oregonians can see how much their regular benefits are by checking their EBT account online or by logging into their “ONE” account online. People with questions about their SNAP can call the ONE customer service center at 1-800-699-9075.
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