***For Immediate Release***
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Contact: Magdalena Cazarez
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
C: (402) 504-0074
mcazarez@neappleseed.org
Governor Ricketts maximizes SNAP to help Nebraska families during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nebraska Appleseed recommends implementing additional programs available to Nebraska
Lincoln, NE — On Tuesday, April 7, Nebraska Governor Ricketts announced temporary changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will help Nebraska families put food on the table during these uncertain economic times. The 170,000 Nebraskans who already participate in SNAP — including people who are paid low wages, people juggling caregiving duties, and people struggling to find steady work — are being hit especially hard by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We applaud the Governor for taking steps to lengthen SNAP recertification periods, provide emergency SNAP allotments, and waive eligibility interview requirements so families can better access the food they need,” said Nebraska Appleseed’s Economic Justice Program Director, Ken Smith.
“New authority provided by Congress also permits Nebraska to provide meal-replacement benefits through SNAP for households with a child who attends a school that’s closed and who would otherwise receive free or reduced-price meals, regardless of whether they currently participate in SNAP. This new option within SNAP, known as Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), would go a long way to help Nebraska families with children who are now at home and unable to access school meals. We urge the Governor and the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a plan to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide these benefits as soon as possible.”
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