Fast Facts for August 17, 2021
For 42 million Americans who are currently on food stamps, the federal government has increased your benefit by about 25% above pre-pandemic levels. You’ll start seeing the changes October 1st.
I’ll explain how much more you’ll see in a minute but first —
This federal program — that many of you know as SNAP — is for those who are at or below the poverty line, are elderly or are disabled and receive public assistance. These people will get a significant and permanent increase in benefits. This increase came to be after Congress passed the Farm Bill in 2018, President Trump signed it into law, and President Biden signed a subsequent Executive Order. That law also says the Thrifty Food Plan, which is the metric for how SNAP benefits are determined, must be reevaluated every 5 years based on several things, including the rising cost of healthy food. The Thrifty Food Plan had not been adjusted since 2006.
Now for how much more you’ll receive. The SNAP increase is $34.24 per qualified person per month. During the pandemic, the government increased SNAP benefits by 15%, but that program will expire at the end of September and will be replaced with this new program. The SNAP benefit increase will cost $20 billion per year.
Read more about the SNAP benefit increase here.
PLUS
If you’re planning to get on a plane, train, or bus between now and 2022 — you better bring your mask and be prepared to wear it from the minute you get to the airport, train or bus station to the minute you leave.
That’s because the TSA has extended its mask mandate until January 18, 2022.
The mandate was supposed to expire on September 13, 2021 but the TSA says because of the highly transmissible Delta variant and the risk to those who travel especially those who are unvaccinated — this move was necessary.
Mask mandates — especially on planes – -have been a point of contention between passengers and flight attendants. In fact, the FAA just reported, so far in 2021, about 3900 unruly passenger incidents were recorded and about 2900 of those were because of a mask.
Again, it’s a federal crime to interfere with the duties of flight crew members. That includes disobeying mask requirements. The FAA has a Zero Tolerance policy and is not afraid to have law enforcement drag you off the plane and find you tens of thousands of dollars for non-compliance.
FAA report August 16, 2021 here.
