Delaware SNAP benefits reduced Nov. 1

More than 150,000 Delawareans who receive food assistance are among the 48 million Americans who will see their benefits reduced starting Friday.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services is warning those enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that their monthly benefit will go down due to the expiration of stimulus funding.  That extra funding expanded benefits for SNAP recipients starting in April 2009.  

The benefit cutbacks has been the subject of intense debate in Congress over the Farm Bill.  U.S. Senator Chris Coons, D-Delaware, joined 38 of his Senate colleagues in signing onto a letter to oppose other changes in the SNAP program that would limit access to the program.

Notices have been sent to all 154,000 Delawareans on the SNAP rolls alerting them of the reduction.  For those who will have difficulty feeding their families because of the cuts are urged to call the Delaware 211 hotline for access to additional community resources.

The average monthly SNAP benefit for Delaware clients before the reduction is $128 per person.  The amount of each benefit depends on income, household size and expenses.  The reduction for a household of one will be $11 per month.  A family of four will see their SNAP benefits drop by $36.  A household of eight will see a $65 drop in benefits.