NORTH CAROLINA – In response to the coronavirus, North Carolina food assistance recipients will receive extra benefits.

Hundreds of North Carolinians enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps, will receive the maximum funding amount for the next two months.

It's the state's response to the mass layoffs and furloughs that have resulted from the coronavirus outbreak.

About 360,000 households will receive the temporary increase automatically on their electronic benefit transfer, or EBT cards.

That means current participants don't have to file any additional paperwork.

Gregory Bush with Guilford County Social Services says the additional challenges right now demand aggressive measures to get people the help they need.

Bush says the extra benefits will hit EBT cards in April and May.

According to him, social services has seen an increase in applicants for the food stamps program.

While offices are closed, you can still apply online or over the phone.