Kansas Households Receiving Food Assistance Will Receive Added Benefit

Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard has announced that benefits through the food assistance program, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will increase temporarily.

The maximum allotments for food assistance will increase 15 percent for each household in January and will continue through June 2021. For the six-month period, the maximum allowable allotment for a family of four has been temporarily increased to $782.

“The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 allows states to provide this additional assistance,” Howard said. “These added funds are imperative to ensure Kansas families have access to food in these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Those that already receive food assistance don't have to take any action to receive the increased benefit.

In January, funds will come in three issuances: The regular benefit was issued between January 1 through 10, the 15 percent temporary increase will be available to each household as a supplement on January 21 and the emergency food assistance allotment will be issued January 22 through 30.

The February through June temporary maximum benefit will be issued on the regular issuance dates of the 1st through 10th of the month. In July, benefits will return to the regular benefit amount.

The temporary increase in maximum allotments are:

The temporary minimum allotment for household size one to two is $19.