The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will potentially recalculate SNAP benefits in Hawaii due to exceptionally high food costs.
The USDA is gathering information on current food costs in the state, which are higher than anywhere else in the U.S., with the view to potentially increasing how much Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients get to help them with high grocery costs.
SNAP—commonly referred to as food stamps—is a federal government benefit for low and no-income households, with a focus on supporting senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and other vulnerable people, ensuring they have access to food. The amount of financial aid received is based on the total income of a household, with larger households receiving higher amounts dependent on their earnings.
How much by, and if the benefit will be increased, is not yet known. The USDA's information gathering for potential increases is due to continue until March 4.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for comment.
Around 193,000 residents of the islands rely on SNAP to help buy groceries.
Senator Brian Schatz has urged for an update to the amount of help given to Hawaii residents.
"For many in Hawai'i, SNAP is a lifeline, helping families put food on the table," Schatz said, according to local news site Kaua'i Now. "But to make sure this program continues to help those who rely on it, SNAP benefits need to keep up with the real cost of food across the state."
Hawaii has the highest food costs across all 50 states as of October 2023. The average Honolulu resident pays $638.57 for groceries every month—a staggering $200 more than the national average of $415.53, according to Move.org.
Eligibility for SNAP is calculated using the monthly income of the household, which includes earnings from employment and other benefit sources such as Social Security payments, child support, unemployment insurance, and cash assistance. According to the Pew Research Center, 12.5 percent of the U.S. population relies on SNAP benefits as of July 2023.
SNAP assessments also consider the assets of the household, such as funds saved in a regular account. Other assets that are not easily accessible, such as the property, personal belongings, and retirement savings, are not factored into the eligibility.
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