GA Sees Increase In SNAP Applications, More Funds Coming

ATLANTA, GA — The amount of people applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has drastically increased in Georgia, according to Gov. Brian Kemp. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, more people have applied across the state, reports WSB.

“The Division of Family and Children Services received nearly 12,000 online applications, up from 6,400 online applications two weeks ago,” he announced Monday evening at a news conference. “Those numbers do not include paper applications.”

"State officials are working on plans to support the nutritional needs of its most vulnerable residents, allowing families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to access the maximum benefit amount for their household in March and April. Right now, the average monthly SNAP benefit per Georgia household is $225. About $200 million in SNAP benefits is distributed to Georgians every month.”

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SNAP recipients will see an additional $100 in benefits in March and April, Kemp said. State officials are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue the increased supplement to residents for March. It will come at the end of the month in the form of a second allotment. The supplement will be included as part of the regular monthly benefit in April, Kemp said.

Globally, more than 392,000 people have been infected and more than 17,000 people have died from the COVID-19 virus, Johns Hopkins reported as of Tuesday. Of that total, more than 81,400 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 46,000 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. There have been 593 deaths in the U.S., including 25 in Georgia, that have been tied to the virus outbreak.

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