New York Works to Help Those Losing Some SNAP Benefits

From the governor's office:

New York state is taking steps to preserve nearly $457 million a year in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that would otherwise be cut by the recently enacted federal Farm Bill. 

The bill was slated to cut SNAP benefits an average of $127 per month for affected households in New York, including those that live in government subsidized housing or in certain congregate care settings. This action by the state will save benefits for nearly 300,000 households in New York.

New York state, through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, will dedicate about $6 million in additional federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to maintain SNAP benefit levels for affected households. 

The funding will be used to increase the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit of SNAP recipients in certain living situations for whom heat is included in the rent. By receiving the higher HEAP benefit, these households will remain eligible for the highest SNAP allowance for their energy costs, which enables them to continue receiving SNAP benefits at the level for which they are currently eligible.