COVID-19 SNAP benefits ending: How it impacts Pa. residents
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's the end of an era, a pandemic era that is. Beginning Wednesday, millions of Americans will lose part of their SNAP benefits as pandemic-era funding comes to an end.
All SNAP households will lose a minimum of $95 a month, beginning in March, according to the Office of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. But the average Pennsylvania SNAP household will lose more than $180.
Shapiro is urging people to support food banks, which are already under strain after a rise in demand during the pandemic.
At the end of last year, Congress passed a bill cutting off those extra SNAP benefits. It left many food banks and thousands of families with little time to prepare.
A mother of three, who's identity we're withholding, just spent nearly $10 on a carton of eggs.
"The cost of food is just ridiculous," the mother said.
Food prices are rising and the upcoming reduction in SNAP benefits puts many in a bind.
The pandemic era boost in benefits is coming to an end affecting 2.7 million people across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
"What we call the hunger cliff is going to be devastating to families in our community," Loree Jones-Brown, the CEO of Philabundance, said.
Jones-Brown says on average, households will lose at least $95 a month in SNAP benefits. But for some families, they're losing even more.
The mother of three CBS Philadelphia spoke with at ShopRite said she gets $338 in SNAP benefits.
"With the extra, I was getting like close to $800," the woman said.
Throughout the pandemic, Jones-Brown says Philabundance saw the need for food go through the roof. But emergency pandemic-era federal funding helped keep millions of families afloat.
"One of the ways we provide people support is through SNAP, is through essentially these food stamps. So we provided them with extra support with food. Inflation happened. Now we're pulling that back from people and we're pulling it back pretty quickly," Jones-Brown said.
However, some say this was to be expected.
"I think that it was important that it was there when it was needed. It was extra but at some time they do have to stop," Karen Thompson said. "The food is out there if they know where to look, it seems the community are helping each other."
Philabundance says with the reduction in benefits they are working with community pantries to get more food and are seeking more donations.
If you're interested in donating to Philabundance to help people affected by COVID-19, you can find those resources here.
