SNAP | WLRN

Jaqueline Benitez pushes her cart down an aisle as she shops for groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. Benitez, 21, who works as a preschool teacher, depends on California's SNAP benefits to help pay for food, and starting in March she expects a significant cut, perhaps half, of the $250 in food benefits she has received since 2020. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

Health

South Florida chefs fight to save the country’s largest food assistance program

Ammy Sanchez

Eight South Florida chefs are joining more than 150 nationwide in urging Congress to protect children from going hungry. They are speaking out against proposed deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, which helps low-income families buy groceries.

FILE - Apples and orange slices rest in trays for student lunches at the Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School, in Essex Junction, Vt., June 9, 2022.

Government & Politics

South Florida mayors exhort Congress to reject cuts to federal food stamp benefits

WLRN News Staff

North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, joined with mayors across the country, to urge Congress to reject making cuts to federal programs that help low-income families pay for food.

Health

Tech glitches among top worries as new Medicaid portal opens

Joe Mario Pedersen

Florida's MYACCESS website is keeping its name but changing its portal, meaning millions of Floridians will have to create a new account. Many are in the middle of Medicaid redetermination.

A grocery shopper pushes her cart down an aisle as she shops for groceries at a supermarket. Feb. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

Government & Politics

More than 1 million Floridians could lose food assistance by end of month

Adrian Andrews

Florida’s low-income families may be at risk of losing out of on SNAP benefits.

A sign noting the acceptance of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which SNAP beneficiaries use to pay for food, is displayed at a grocery store in 2019 in Oakland, Calif. SNAP emergency allotments are ending after this month and have already ended in some parts of the country.

Food & Agriculture

SNAP recipients will lose their pandemic boost and may face other reductions by March

Kaitlyn Radde

Congress ended the temporary benefit meant to help low-income households with pandemic-era hardships. A huge increase in Social Security benefits may mean some households see further SNAP reductions.

A sign alerts customers about SNAP food stamps benefits at a grocery store in New York City in Dec. 2019. SNAP benefits are getting a historic boost nearly two years later, under the Biden administration.

Here's What The Historic Increase In Food Stamp Benefits Could Mean For You

Rachel Treisman

The average SNAP benefit will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, starting in October.

A farmer leads dairy cows from the pasture to the milking barn at a creamery in Gallipolis, Ohio. The USDA launched a $3 billion plan to distribute food to families, called the Farmers to Family Food Box Program.

USDA Secretary Says Despite Plant Closures, He Does Not Anticipate Food Shortages

Steve Inskeep

Sonny Perdue says he expects "85-90% production in probably a very few days or weeks." He also says the government is stepping up efforts to buy food from farmers and distribute it to families.

Radio

Ending SNAP Program Would Increase Pressure on Florida Food Banks

About 200,000 children in Florida could lose their access to free lunches under changes to the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance…

Nearly 200,000 Florida Kids Could Lose Free School Lunch Under Food Stamp Rule Changes

Nearly 200,000 children across Florida could lose their automatic access to free school lunches under a Trump administration proposal that would limit the…

Food Stamp Recipients Got Help Early Before Dorian. Now They Could Run Out

Jessica Bakeman

For people who don't have consistent access to food, the effects of Hurricane Dorian could linger for weeks.Floridians who were scheduled to receive…

An FDA contract worker collects food and supplies from a food pantry in Baltimore. In the face of a Trump administration proposal that could cause 3 million people to lose federal food assistance, mayors from 70 cities are pushing back.

70 Mayors Reject Trump Food Stamp Proposal, Saying It Puts Kids At Risk

Bobby Allyn

Mayors from 70 American cities send a letter to the Trump administration, saying a plan to push millions of people out of the federal food stamp program would punish some of the country's neediest.

A grocery store in New York City advertises that it accepts food stamps. A Trump administration proposal could result in 3 million people losing their food assistance.

3 Million Could Lose Food Stamp Benefits Under Trump Administration Proposal

Pam Fessler

The administration wants to close what it calls a "loophole" that allows states to give benefits to those who would not otherwise be eligible by raising or eliminating income and asset limits.