Rep. Payne Of NJ Wants To Boost SNAP By Removing Housing Cap

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey recently introduced a proposed federal law that he says will allow more low-income families to receive their “fair share” of Supplemental Nutrition Benefits Program (SNAP) benefits.

According to Payne – a Democrat who represents the state’s 10th congressional district – the SNAP Benefits Fairness Act would remove an “arbitrary” cap on housing expenses, so that families in higher-cost-of-living areas – like New Jersey – will receive the proper assistance for food that they’re entitled to.

Basic housing can easily eat up half of a family’s income. But the program caps excess shelter costs at $624 per month, hampering the positive impact of SNAP, Payne said.

“SNAP benefits are not keeping up with the national economy and hardworking American families are suffering because of it,” the congressman said. “Rents increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have not come down. It could cause the families that need it the most to lose their SNAP benefits.”

The bill, H.R.1765, was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. Read its full text here.

The recently redrawn 10th District includes Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona and West Orange in Essex County; Jersey City in Hudson County; and Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park and Union Township in Union County.

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