Sep 29 How a government shutdown could affect you By Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Associated Press The ripple effects would come down to how long the shutdown lasts and varying contingency plans in place at impacted agencies. Continue reading
Jun 09 How some families are banned from food stamps for life due to past drug convictions By Laura Santhanam A 1996 federal law allows states to place lifetime bans on SNAP benefits from people who hold felony drug convictions. But advocates say it only succeeds in undermining a person’s ability to start over. Continue reading
Jun 03 Many Democratic lawmakers frustrated by debt deal's work requirements for food aid By Farnoush Amiri, Associated Press Democrats are deeply conflicted about the food aid requirements that President Joe Biden negotiated as part of the debt ceiling deal, fearing damage has been done to safety net programs that will be difficult to unravel in the years ahead. Continue reading
Feb 28 Watch 7:11 Food banks prepare for spike as pandemic SNAP benefits come to an end By William Brangham, Layla Quran, Dorothy Hastings In the last three years, households eligible for food assistance received at least $95 more per month as part of a pandemic-era increase to combat hunger. But Wednesday, those benefits will expire, meaning a smaller monthly food budget for nearly… Continue watching
Apr 15 States scale back food stamp benefits as prices soar By Scott McFetridge, Associated Press Month by month, more of the roughly 40 million Americans who get help buying groceries through the federal food stamp program are seeing their benefits plunge. Continue reading
Sep 06 Watch 7:33 A look at the impact of the federal increase in food stamps, child tax credit By Yamiche Alcindor, Geoffrey Lou Guray, Tess Conciatori As the PBS NewsHour reported earlier, the federal government's weekly unemployment payments expired Monday for almost 9 million Americans. Yamiche Alcindor has a broader look at the administration's efforts to expand the nation's social safety net for those battling poverty… Continue watching
Aug 16 Watch 4:49 News Wrap: New York mandates COVID vaccines for all health care workers In our news wrap Monday, New York state will now require all health care workers, including staff at long-term care facilities, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 27. Tropical Storm Fred regained strength with winds up to 65 miles… Continue watching
Aug 16 Food stamp benefits to increase by more than 25 percent in October By Ashraf Khalil, Josh Boak, Associated Press The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families. It's the largest single increase in the program's history. Continue reading
Apr 30 Watch 6:17 More Americans are going hungry amid economic crisis -- and many can't get help By Paul Solman The current economic crisis means rising demand for food stamps. While Congress has passed additional benefits for some recipients, a large percentage of the poorest households did not get an increase. Meanwhile, many people, from college students now at home… Continue watching
Apr 27 With schools shuttered, districts struggle to feed students and communities By Candice Norwood School districts launched meal delivery services and grab-and-go locations that not only feed students, but in many cases adult community members, too, as unemployment numbers and the need for food rise. Continue reading