The Rev. Diane Riley, a Deacon in the Diocese of Newark, is quoted in this article.
[NJToday] Those who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, will see a decrease in their assistance come Nov. 1. The reduction in benefits comes because a 2009 law temporarily increasing SNAP benefits during the recession has run out. The cut comes right before the holiday season and those involved in food banks and food pantries in New Jersey believe it will be devastating for those in the state who need the help.
The most recent data available for New Jersey from the Division of Family Development shows that in July, there were 428,181 households receiving NJ SNAP benefits, an increase of 5.3 percent since July 2012. A total of 863,642 New Jerseyans received SNAP benefits in July, an increase of 5.8 percent since July 2012. Ocean, Salem and Mercer counties saw the highest increases in participants from July 2012 to July 2013.
The decrease that takes effect in November is based upon the number of people in the household. For example, a single individual can receive a maximum of $200 per month through SNAP. Come Nov. 1, this will drop to $189, a reduction of $11. For a family of four, the maximum benefit is $668 per month, which will drop $36 to $632.
Although some might think the decrease is minor, Community FoodBank of New Jersey Director of Advocacy Diane Riley explained that for individuals that are living on such a tight budget, the reduction could mean a couple bags of groceries per month, which can be significant. She said many people who use SNAP will have to turn to food banks more often.
“Oftentimes, we’re the only place people can turn. And we’re here to provide some food, but we were never meant to be sustaining people. We were meant to be emergency,” Riley said. “And now what you have here, the government pulling some of their very important partnership in helping to feed those who are struggling to put food on the table. The charitable system can’t make up such a loss of that.”
