The Department of Agriculture announced that it has increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by $2 billion per month in all US states and territories as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law by President Trump. This is in addition to the nearly $4.5 billion spent monthly by the government on SNAP recipients. The emergency increase in benefits represent a 40% rise in overall monthly SNAP benefits, which significantly improves the purchasing power of millions of Americans.

A household with two adults, three children, and no income can receive the maximum benefit of $768. However, due to reportable income and other factors, the average 5-person household receives significantly less, $528. The emergency benefits provided by the the Department of Agriculture would provide an additional $240 per month for such a 5-person household, bringing the average household up to the same benefit level as households already receiving the maximum.

All SNAP households that are eligible to receive less than the maximum benefit amount will receive the emergency allotment supplement to bring them up to the maximum allowed. By law, households cannot exceed the maximum amount of benefits provided.

Some other moves made by the USDA in response to the coronavirus crisis include launching Pandemic-EBT which provides the value of school breakfast and lunch to families eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, increasing access to online purchasing by expanding the online purchasing pilot to cover half of all SNAP households, and debuting “Meals for Kids,” and interactive site to help families find meals for children while schools are closed.