November 2, 2024

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Health's Like Heaven.

SNAP benefits in Indiana will increase after Thrifty Food Plan changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday announced changes to its Thrifty Food Plan, the basis of its formula for determining food stamp benefits, modernizing the program and increasing its purchasing power for the first time in its over 40-year history.

The Thrifty Food Plan, one of four budgets created by the USDA to suggest general cost levels of nutritious diets for children and families, was first instituted in the 1970s and, aside from cost-of-living adjustments, has not been updated to reflect changes in dietary recommendations or broader economic trends.

As the plan is used to determine maximum allotments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — critics have often said it placed a healthy lifestyle out of reach of those receiving aid.

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