To help Iowa families struggling in the pandemic, SNAP benefits were increased by a minimum of $95 a month. Come April 2022, those households that received these extra funds will have to do without.

Iowa was granted additional funds for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture every month of the pandemic, said an article by WHO 13. However, this extra funding with contingent on Iowa keeping its COVID-19 disaster declaration.

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Earlier this month, Governor Kim Reynolds decided to let Iowa’s COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration expire. Following that announcement Iowa Department of Public Health director, Kelly Garcia spoke to reporters.

After nearly two years of experience with an ever-evolving virus -- we have shifted our response and reporting several times… Effective February 16th, so midnight February 15th, the state's public health emergency declaration will expire,

The USDA has approved a one-month transition period for Iowa to go from pandemic to non-pandemic levels. March will be the last month SNAP households will receive Maximum Allotment SNAP benefits.

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Benefit amounts that households will be receiving starting in April will be listed on the most recent Notice of Decision. The Iowa Department of Human Services notes that the change is because Maximum Allotment benefits ended and not because of changes in your individual SNAP case.

The USDA estimates that more than 141,000 Iowan families use SNAP benefits to purchase their groceries.

How You Can Prepare For The Change

According to the Iowa Department of Human Services, you should expect you get your Electronic Benefit Transfer card at the beginning of April at your regularly scheduled issuance date. To make sure you are getting what you are entitled to, you must have all your information such as the number of people in a household, costs of living, and income up to date.

There are also several additional resources available such as Double up Food Bucks, Free and Reduced Price Meals at schools, food banks, and more.

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