How Much SNAP Money North Texasers Are Expected to Lose as Pandemic-Era Aid Comes to an End

DALLAS — SNAP benefits in the era of the pandemic expire on March 1, and the people of North Texas will feel it.

Families will see benefit cuts of $95 a month or more.

“It will affect us a lot,” Raymonda Reid told WFAA.

Reid is a mother, she is responsible for feeding her four young children and is heavily dependent on SNAP benefits.

“It’s very hard and I’m worried about it right now.”

And she knows that many families are like that. Reed is taking a culinary training program at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves more than 100,000 families who rely on instant benefits.

“It’s going to be very tough,” TAFB CEO and President Julie Butner told WFAA.

Butner said she understands these subsidies were meant to ease the COVID situation, but said that as families feel the inflation, many will struggle with the loss of aid.

“I don’t think families are fully aware of the impact this will have.”

Butner said the families her food bank serves will lose up to $30 million in monthly benefits.

The North Texas Food Bank team estimates that their families will lose up to $48 million a month in benefits.

“So that’s a lot of dollars, food dollars to compensate these families,” NTFB’s Ann Riedheimer told WFAA.

Food banks are trying to brace for this increase in demand, but Butner said they are also feeling inflation.

“We are not ready to deal with this,” she said.

“Because in addition to quick benefits that are being cut, there are other government subsidies that are being cut, and combined with inflation, rising operating costs are impacting the food bank,” Butner continued.

“We are already reducing the amount of food we give per family, so this will make things worse.”

Both food banks are urging people who might be able to donate to consider doing so.

Readhimer also encourages SNAP recipients to visit yourtexasbenefits.com to update your information.

Additional assistance could be provided, she said.

“They may be missing out on benefits they may not know about because some benefits have changed since COVID.”