Governor Greg Abbott stated on Thursday that the emergency Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for Texans for January had been extended by the state’s health department.
Household Benefits
About 1.6 million Texas households will benefit from the $334.1 million in emergency payments, according to Abbott.
In a news release, Abbott stated, “As we start the new year, we’re delighted to continue assisting Texans via the extension of emergency SNAP benefits.” “Texans all around the state will have access to healthy meals to take care of their family and loved ones thanks to HHSC.”
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s SNAP program offers low-income households in Texas food assistance.
According to the press release, the HHSC has U.S. approval. The Department of Agriculture will increase the grantees’ monthly financial cap. SNAP participants will get emergency money worth at least $95.
By January 31, the money ought to be in their accounts. According to the press release, February is the final month that qualified households can receive emergency funding.
Emergency January Allocations
In addition to the more than $9.3 billion in payments already given to Texans since April 2020, the emergency January allocations.
The final month that eligible households can get emergency SNAP assistance is February 2023, according to legislation that Congress just approved. Receivers will no longer get additional benefits as a result of this federal legislation, and this benefit change cannot be contested. Before the emergency allotment expires this month, SNAP families will be notified of the change.
SNAP, a federal program administered by HHSC, offers food assistance to qualified low-income families and individuals in Texas. Texans in need can apply for benefits, such as Medicaid and SNAP, at YourTexasBenefits.com or manage their benefits using the Your Texas Benefits smartphone app.
Texas Family Planning Clinics
Following a court decision late last month, Texas teenagers will now require their parents’ consent to receive birth control at federally financed clinics.
Regardless of age, poverty, or immigration status, these clinics are supported by the Title X program and offer free, confidential contraception to everyone. Prior to this decision, Title X was one of the only options for Texas minors seeking birth control without parental permission.
U.S. According to a December ruling by District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the program infringes on parents’ legal rights and both state and federal laws. The US Department of Health and Human Services has requested that the court review its judgment.
But as it waits for more direction from HHS, Texas’ Title X administrator, Every Body Texas, has directed its 156 clinics to request parental approval for minors “out of an excess of caution.”
Stephanie LeBleu, interim Title X project director at Every Body Texas, stated, “We hope that as the lawsuit unfolds, we will be able to rescind this guidance and continue to give children in Texas the sexual and reproductive care they need and deserve with or without parental agreement.”
Without parental permission, minors can still get counseling, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, condoms, and STD testing and treatment, according to LeBleu.
The whole Title X program, which was established by the Nixon administration to offer family planning services to low-income women, is in jeopardy as a result of Kacsmaryk’s decision. Federal laws prohibit Title X clinics from requesting parental approval or informing parents that a child has received care, even though they should “promote family engagement… to the degree practical.”
