Receive SNAP benefits? You could get more stimulus
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act from President Joe Biden presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for students, families and educators alike.
Consider Bucks County alone is expected to receive nearly $195 million in funds from the plan.
Public Citizens for Children and Youth, a pro-education nonprofit based in Southeastern Pennsylvania, wants to ensure that people know about the rescue plan and the funds and resources they may now be eligible for.
“People have no idea what is coming out of this; but it’s not their fault, because they are struggling and dealing with virtual learning and picking kids up; it has turned into an all-hands situation,” said Dan O’Brien, PCCY’s education coordinator for Bucks County. “We are finding that people know about the checks because information on the $1,400 checks was out there. But we are finding that especially when it comes to SNAP benefits expansion and the child tax credit, people aren’t as familiar.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services administers SNAP on the state level, and includes directions for filing for SNAP.
The rescue plan also extends increases to SNAP’s maximum allotments from July 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2021. To raise awareness, PCCY has put together several downloadable checklists for public schools and families.
As school districts throughout the county look to take advantage of the influx of funds from the rescue plan, O’Brien said it is important to follow the money and hold districts accountable for the way they spend the funds.
“In our conversations with schools, many are just waiting for state or federal guidance on how to allocate the funds, because a lot of money will be coming down the road, and that’s great,” O’Brien said. “But a lot of that money is going to go to programs districts have already implemented. For example, Morrisville is so underfunded, when they get a certain amount of money it’s already accounted for because of the added expenses of programs they have already.”
Too that end, PCCY suggests families ask its school district to include a special presentation on how the federal funds are expected to be spent and make comments about these funds at any school board meeting, The group advocates spending priorities on the urgent learning and social-emotional needs of children.
According to the nonprofit, rescue plan funds are intended to be spent on top of what the district was expected to spend to boost student learning and help students redevelop the social skills needed for school success over the next 3.5 years. Additionally, the act recognizes that many students experienced severe hardship during the pandemic including the loss of lives among family members, parental or care-giver job loss, eviction, hunger, and family turmoil.
“Districts are eager to utilize this money to help do the programs to get kids back on track. I think the school districts in Bucks County are working hard to make this happen,” O’Brien said. “I just think there needs to be more guidance from the state and federal government on this. It’s not like they are hesitant to use the money, but we are urging them to use the money to support kids with immediate needs.”
The rescue plan also includes funding for additional nutritional support.
Families can receive up to $6.82 per day for school day meals if their child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals and the child’s school has been closed for in-person instruction (adjusted where there is hybrid instruction); and for any child under 18, you may also receive help with the cost of summer meals.
Families already receiving SNAP may receive these new benefits on a SNAP EBT card; families with school-aged children not receiving SNAP will have a P-EBT card mailed to them for each child.
If a person receives nutrition benefits through the Women, Infants and Children program, the state may increase WIC benefits by $35 per month for more fruits and vegetables through Sept. 30.
An additional $1,500 might be owed to you if your family qualified for the maximum SNAP benefit since last September.
“This is an historic piece of legislation, and an investment we haven’t seen in a long time, when it comes to investing in the immediate needs families, children and those struggling in what has been a very tough year,” O’Brien said. “The legislation is a lot to take in, especially for people already overwhelmed. We want to make sure the original goal of the American Rescue Plan Act is met, which is to get support and resources to the families in need.
“Our goal is to educate people and make sure families are aware of these opportunities.”
