In 2023, a record number of Minnesota residents sought assistance from food shelves. As per Hunger Solutions, Minnesotans made 7.5 million visits to food shelves in 2023, which is 1.8 million more than the previous year.
Ensuring that no Minnesotan goes hungry is a top priority, according to Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St. Paul, who chairs the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee. “Democrats are striving to assist Minnesotans in affording their lives for everyone to thrive.”
Food Stamp Modification in Minnesota
The Minnesota House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee discussed three bills focused on expanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which assists low-income households in purchasing food.
According to federal regulations, a person who is otherwise eligible and falls between the ages of 18 and 52 without dependents can only receive food support for three months in 36 months, unless they are exempt from the time limit or meet the monthly work requirements.
Once the initial three months of eligibility have been exhausted, additional months of eligibility for food support can be earned by working a minimum of 80 hours per month or participating in employment and training activities.
If an individual meets certain criteria, they are exempt from these work requirements and time limits.
Unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation, pregnant, has someone under age 18 in the household, excused from general work requirements, a veteran, experiencing homelessness, or age 24 or younger and in foster care on their 18th birthday.
SNAP Update: $175 Monthly Benefit with Health Checks
The bill, once amended, sets up SNAP as a medicine program that offers a monthly benefit of $175 and helps eligible program participants at risk of losing SNAP benefits due to federal time limits by providing medical or behavioral health assessments.
The bill also mandates a two-year pause on ending food assistance for eligible individuals, includes a submission to the legislature, and allocates funds for the program.
This surpasses the amount of visits made during the recession in the late 2000s and exceeds the number of visits made during the COVID-19 pandemic by more than double.