Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, most Oregonians who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have also gotten monthly, emergency allotments. Now, that’s about to end.
Starting back in April 2020, the extra benefits were provided to help qualifying individuals and families get enough healthy food during the COVID-19 emergency. On Tuesday, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced February will be the final month that the agency is allowed to provide the extra food dollars.
Healthy food at grocery stores or farmers markets like these vegetables in this 2020 file photo from the Bend Farmers Market may soon become more difficult to get. That's because extra benefits provided during the COVID-19 emergency are about to come to an end.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
The change comes out of the recently passed Congressional Congressional Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Under the new legislation, SNAP households will receive their last emergency payment on March 2.
Regular SNAP benefits will continue to be added to recipients’ electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards between the first and the ninth of each month. Oregonians who receive SNAP are encouraged to prepare for the change in their food benefits.
In a statement, ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “As Oregon continues to be impacted by COVID-19, we know that without these emergency food benefits some in Oregon may experience hardship and hunger. We encourage them to contact our partners at 211, Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”
Find out what your regular SNAP benefit amount is. Knowing your regular SNAP benefit can help you budget. You can check how much your regular benefits are by accessing your EBT account online at http://www.ebtEDGE.com or by logging into your ONE account at Benefits.oregon.gov.