Why Some People in California Got Extra SNAP Benefit

Those who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in California were able to earn extra benefits this month.

The state offered SNAP replacement benefits as a way to ensure those affected by last month's wildfires would still have access to food.

Why It Matters

Due to the widespread Los Angeles area wildfires, many SNAP recipients may have lost their food due to power outages.

Across the country, more than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP, which is available to low-income families and individuals to help them purchase healthy food from their local grocery stores.

What To Know

Some of those who receive SNAP in California, otherwise known as CalFresh, saw extra benefits this past week due to the recent wildfires plaguing the Los Angeles area.

The federal government approved benefit replacements for recipients in 69 different zip codes that saw prolonged loss of electricity, likely leading many to have their food spoil.

Roughly $11 million more in SNAP benefits were sent out to nearly 82,000 California households.

The replacement benefits were automatically delivered to EBT cards of recipients who lived in areas that suffered from power outages from January 6 through January 18.

The money reloaded into EBT cards accounts for 40 percent of each recipient's regular benefits.

For a family of three in a qualifying ZIP code, these extra benefits could mean $307 extra in funding for grocery shopping.

The qualifying ZIP codes are in Los Angeles, Butte, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Tuolumne, and Ventura counties.

All benefit replacements were sent out on January 31, according to the California Department of Social Services.

What People Are Saying

California Department of Social Services Director Jennifer Troia said in a statement: "The California Department of Social Services continues to work alongside our state, local, and federal partners on the forefront of California's response and recovery efforts. It's critical that people have access to food, and these replacement CalFresh benefits will help Southern California households in need."

Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "The recent wildfires in Southern California not only destroyed property but also caused significant damage to utilities and energy facilities, leading to prolonged power outages across several regions. These outages likely resulted in food spoilage, in addition to the loss of homes and property directly impacted by the fires."

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "As a program, CalFresh has had plenty of highs and lows depending on awareness of the benefits it offers and how many participants who qualified that ultimately enrolled. The decision to offer these extra resources at a time when many are struggling due to recent fires and power outages is a positive step, not just in providing additional benefits to those who desperately need them, but also in creating more awareness to people in these communities who could potentially qualify for this program who aren't currently enrolled in it."

What Happens Next

The rest of Californians' February SNAP benefits will arrive as usual.

This year, SNAP recipients across the country saw a higher maximum amount available. That maximum increased to $292 per month, up by $1. For a household with four people, it grew by $2 to $975.