On Monday, Gov. David Ige extended the continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by signing a fourth emergency proclamation as many families have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. 

What You Need To Know

  • SNAP benefits are a federal program that provides food and nutritional support to low-income households by allowing individuals and families to purchase eligible foods by using an Electronic Benefits Transfer card

  • During the pandemic, there has been an unprecedented amount of SNAP applicants

  • The emergency proclamation allows all SNAP recipients to have the maximum benefit amount, which is based on household size

  • No action is required to receive the emergency supplement, which is automatically added to EBT cards

The emergency proclamation allows all SNAP recipients to have the maximum benefit amount, which is based on household size. However, SNAP households that already received the maximum benefit amount will not receive an emergency supplement.  

The fourth proclamation extends the emergency period through Nov. 18, 2022. Ige signed the first emergency proclamation in March, the second proclamation in May, and the third proclamation in July. 

“Food insecurity is just one of the lingering effects of the pandemic, and SNAP benefits provide Hawaii families with nutritious food,” Ige said in the news release. “It’s important for families to reach out so they can get the help they need.”

SNAP benefits are a federal program that provides food and nutritional support to low-income households by allowing individuals and families to purchase eligible foods by using an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. In Hawaii, the Department of Human Services runs the SNAP program. 

The pandemic and increases in the cost of living due to inflation have left many families struggling with food insecurity, and there have been an unprecedented amount of SNAP applicants. 

“The average monthly number of SNAP recipients pre-COVID-19 was 155,000. At the height of the application surge there were 50,000 more SNAP beneficiaries,” Amanda Stevens, the public information officer for the Department of Human Services, told Spectrum News in an email. 

In August 2022, 86,490 families (or 161,421 individuals) received additional benefits of $17,741,331 in federally authorized SNAP emergency allotments, according to the proclamation.  

No action is required to receive the emergency supplement, which is automatically added to EBT cards. Regular SNAP benefits are distributed at the beginning of the month, while the supplement is distributed toward the middle of the month.

Most households must renew their eligibility annually to receive continued benefits. Upload required documents here.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.