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Oregon’s food stamp benefits increase permanently in October

The state Department of Human Services (Courtesy/State of Oregon)

Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, will get a permanent, additional $36 per month on average along with their regular benefits starting Oct. 1.

The increased benefits came as part of federal changes to the Thrifty Food Plan, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses to estimate the cost of a healthy diet, according to the department’s website.

Most SNAP recipients in the state will also continue receiving additional emergency benefits in October, the Oregon Department of Human Services wrote in a Tuesday news release.

SNAP, a federal program administered by Oregon DHS, provides food assistance to around 1 million low-income people and families in Oregon.

Every month since March 2020, the federal government has approved emergency allotments to give SNAP recipients additional support during the Covid pandemic.

Around 408,000 SNAP households in October will receive around $64 million in extra food benefits added to their SNAP benefits, the news release said.

Emergency food benefits will be available to current SNAP households on Oct. 12, and new SNAP households will receive them Oct. 29 or Nov. 2. The benefits will be issued directly to SNAP recipients’ benefit cards and they will not have to take any action to receive them.

“We are grateful to have the opportunity to increase regular SNAP benefits and to provide additional emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” Dan Haun, director of Oregon DHS’s Self-Sufficiency Program wrote in the news release. 

Haun encouraged Oregonians struggling to meet basic needs due to the Covid pandemic to contact the nonprofit call line 211 and the Oregon Food Bank for support. People can reach 211 by dialing the number or texting their zip code to 898-211. They can also learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities by contacting Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-955-673-2372.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian