Big changes coming to food stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps tens of thousands of Idaho families put food on the table each month.

But starting in July, the day people receive their food stamps will move from the first of the month for all recipients, to a staggered 10-day distribution system.

According to IDHW, about 82,000 Idaho households are enrolled in the federal food stamp program managed by the state. That’s a little less than 12 percent of Idaho’s population.

The Department of Health and Welfare operations manager Casey Reines said grocery stores were running out of stock.

“It was really in response to help reduce the impact on retailers the first of the month, reduce long lines and help them,” Reines said.

That’s why IDHW is sending notices out in the next few weeks to food stamp recipients.

“Also beginning this month we are starting to send out notices to our customers,” Reines said.

But for families on food stamps who have to wait an extra week or more in July to get their monthly benefits, it could be a struggle to adjust said Salvation Army Capt. Dwayne Patterson.

The Salvation Army runs a food pantry in Idaho Falls that supplies canned goods.

“It’s really hard to live off just food stamps even people who have jobs and food stamps struggle, ” Patterson said.

If you have questions about the SNAP program or changes to food stamp distribution, you can call the Idaho Department of Welfare at 877-456-1233 or visit their site at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov