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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 7, 2023 04:44 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Establish Minimum SNAP Benefit in Pennsylvania |
| I will soon be introducing legislation that would establish a state minimum monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit of $100 to ensure that no resident or family of our Commonwealth goes hungry. Unlike some other states, Pennsylvania does not supplement the federal SNAP benefits and only uses the federal minimum SNAP payment, which is adjusted annually and is currently $23 per month. On March 1, 2023, federal emergency COVID benefits ended, which included extra funding to provide additional payments to SNAP households. Since the start of the pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) had been providing a second emergency payment, which brought SNAP households up to the maximum amount that they are eligible for or an additional $95 per month. Moreover, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment was not reflected in SNAP eligibility criteria, which means many seniors are receiving reduced SNAP benefits. The ending of the emergency payments reduced monthly benefits for some of Pennsylvania’s older adults from $149 to $23. New Jersey’s legislature recently increased their minimum SNAP benefit from $50 to $95 per month, and the vote was nearly unanimous. Enacting a similar minimum in the Commonwealth would ensure Pennsylvania’s children, families, and seniors have access to the food they need to be productive citizens as students, parents, and workers. Cosponsor this legislation to help end hunger in Pennsylvania. |