One in eight Americans receives food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and yet for at least a decade, experts have insisted that food stamp benefits were too low to provide a truly nutritious diet. Today, the Biden Administration took action to address that problem. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an update to its benefits formula that is based on current food prices, and it will mean an average increase in pre-pandemic benefits of 25% starting October 1, 2021. That jump could help to reduce the poverty and hunger that could dramatically improve the health outcomes of many L.A. Care members.
More than 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, and 1.3 million of them are right here in Los Angeles County, many of them L.A. Care members. Nutrition plays a critical role in the health of everyone. A nutritious diet can help prevent disease, control chronic conditions, and ensure proper childhood development.
But too often, low-income people, who already live in food deserts with limited access to healthful and affordable food, aren’t able to provide the nutritious meals their families need. In under two months, they will have additional help. The average SNAP benefit will increase by $36.24 per person, per month. L.A. Care applauds this action by the Biden Administration and is encouraged that it could be the beginning of more efforts to increase health equity at the federal level.
L.A. Care is committed to advancing health equity for our members and their communities.