State Takes Steps on SNAP to Help Families Impacted by COVID-19

Mar 25, 2020

By Tara Jensen

On March 23, we published a report on ways the state can help ensure no one goes hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are pleased to see the Governor has taken quick action one of the items we included: to guarantee no one’s Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) coverage will lapse during this crisis. The Federal Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved Montana’s waiver to extend household’s SNAP eligibility period. For households whose benefits were set to expire in March, April, or May, they will instead be up for recertification in September, October, or November, respectively. This move will prevent lapses in coverage during this crisis. The vast majority of SNAP participants are seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.  Preventing gaps in coverage for these groups is essential during this public health crisis. Furthermore, extending certification periods frees up staff to work on processing new applications for those who have lost their source of income, instead of using valuable time to recertify current participants. We appreciate the Governor’s responsiveness to food security during this health care crisis. Montana families need the stability of SNAP during this difficult time. To read the rest of our recommendations on SNAP, read our full report here.