SNAP is a Federal program but States have more capacity to make some improvements. Governor Josh Green, M.D. will seek 45 million dollars in additional welfare relief for families in Hawai‘i.
Therefore, struggling families will benefit from this measure which will allow between 13,000 and 14,000 households to get about $3,200 on average per year from the SNAP benefit payments, the former Food Stamps program.
Who will benefit from this measure for the SNAP program?
Governor Josh Green, M.D. claims that it “is going to provide a huge relief for our working-class families“. For your information, Hawaii has to put up with the highest cost of living in the United States.
In order to achieve it, the State of Hawaii will be following the recommendations from a recent study led by the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization (UHERO).
Bear in mind that a family of 4 can receive up to $1,759 per month, although it will become $1,723 from October 1, 2024. So, the 2025 COLA is reducing the maximum amounts.
What is changing in the SNAP rules to increase eligibility?
Thanks to some changes back in 2000, States have more flexibility to adjust rules regarding eligibility. In this case, Hawaii can establish a program of BBCE. BBCE stands for broad-based categorical eligibility.
This broad-based categorical eligibility measure allows States to remove asset limits. So, if you had high savings you could not benefit from SNAP benefits payments.
What is more, BBCE allows States to raise limits on the amount of income households can get and still be eligible for SNAP (Food Stamps). If the “net income limit” is also eliminated, between 13,000 and 14,000,000 low-income households would qualify for SNAP. It would imply a financial effort for the State.
Source: https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/office-of-the-governor-news-release-gov-green-will-seek-45-million-in-additional-welfare-relief-for-hawai%CA%BBi-families/
