WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), provided a statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
As a result of this congressionally mandated re-evaluation, the average SNAP benefit will increase by 21 percent on October 1, 2021 nationwide. Connecticut residents utilizing SNAP will see an increase of $181, raising the maximum available benefit to $847 per month starting October 1, 2021. This is the first update to the content of the Thrifty Food Plan since 2006 and the first cost increase to the Plan since it was created over 45 years ago.
“The update to the Thrifty Food Plan is long overdue. We’ve seen a vast body of research with evidence that SNAP benefits are too low to support a nutritious diet for today’s low-income working families. Accordingly, Congress mandated that USDA reevaluate the Thrifty Food Plan by 2022 in the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. The increase coming from today’s update will help ensure that more SNAP families can have access to healthy meals,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who is also chairwoman of the Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations Subcommittee. “I’m looking forward to continuing our work with USDA as they implement Congressional programs and address hunger and food insecurity for modern-day families in need.” The statement was also included the House Agriculture Committee release.
Prior to the announcement of the update, the Congresswoman led a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack with Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations Subcommittee Democrats. The letter signified support of USDA's intent to ensure the Thrifty Food Plan, on which Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are based, is up-to-date and reflective of the latest science, as required by the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill.
The letter was signed by all Democratic Members of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations, namely: James P. McGovern, Alma S. Adams, Bobby L. Rush, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Salud Carbajal, Al Lawson, Ann McLane Kuster, Jimmy Panetta, and Sean Patrick Maloney.
To find out more about the changes in benefits by state, visit here.
For questions about your SNAP benefits, please contact your SNAP state agency.
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Congresswoman Jahana Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District. She was a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year.
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