A second change would ask the Agriculture Department (USDA) to increase the value of food stamp allotments for the poorest families. The Trump administration had previously said these households, which represent about one-third of food stamp recipients, were not eligible for an “emergency” food stamp program Congress passed last spring. The Thrifty Food Plan is the USDA’s estimate of a minimum, nutritionally sufficient diet and it’s the basis for determining how much households get in food stamp benefits. This is part of the reason why food stamp benefits remain insufficient and roughly half of all households that receive food stamps are still considered food insecure. ADADThe 2018 farm bill instructed the Agriculture Department to reevaluate the Thrifty Food Plan by 2022.

Source: Washington Post January 23, 2021 14:03 UTC