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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – AMERICAN SAMOA
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Thursday, December 31, 2009)
Contact: click here to email newsroom
Office: (684) 633-4116 - Fax: (684) 633-2269 - Cell: (684) 733-4680
Gov. Togiola announces 6.4% increase in Food Stamp benefits and new eligibility criteria for new applicants
(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today announced that Food Stamp recipients will receive a 6.4% increase in monthly benefits starting January 1, 2010, and new eligibility criteria have been approved by the federal government.
Governor Togiola said he has been informed by Human and Social Services Director Leilua Stevenson that American Samoa’s requests for increase in Food Stamp benefits, and an increase in the minimum gross monthly eligibility income level for applicants to qualify, has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDOA) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Governor Togiola said the increase in monthly benefits for the Food Stamp Program, also known as the American Samoa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP), is great news as we begin 2010.
“This is welcome news going into a new year because Food Stamp benefits go directly to our people and is used immediately,” said Governor Togiola. “With rising food costs, the increase in benefits allows our families in the program to be able to meet their basic food needs during these difficult times.”
Governor Togiola said the request for an additional 6.4% increase was made to reflect the actual increase in food costs in American Samoa since 2008.
Governor Togiola also said the USDA and FNS approval to increase the minimum gross monthly eligibility income level for applicants to qualify for ASNAP benefits will greatly assist many families that are trying to get on the program.
The increase in the minimum gross eligibility income level will now be from $733 to $1008 per month. Elderly, blind or disabled individuals with a gross income of no more than $1008 per month now qualify for Food Stamp benefits if they are either US citizens, US nationals or are aliens authorized by the American Samoa Immigration Board.
“The increase would help our economy overall by concentrating relief on those most likely to spend the money quickly, as well as lighten the load to already tight budgets of many families,’ said Governor Togiola. “And the increase in the minimum eligibility income level is wonderful news for our families who will now be eligible and who need that extra help in buying food.”
Governor Togiola expressed his sincere gratitude to the federal government for approving the Territory’s request for an increase.
“I wish to thank USDA and FNS for authorizing this hike to assist in our program recipients nutritional needs,” said Governor Togiola. “And I would like to also thank Director Leilua Stevenson for taking the lead in our request, with the assistance of our Commerce Department, in making this all possible. I highly commend these efforts and collaboration as it benefits our people, who we serve.”
ASNAP recipients will receive an increase of 6.4% in benefits beginning with their Food stamp coupons in January. This is on top of a 13.6% increase in April 2009, which was authorized by the US Congress as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009.
According to the American Samoa Department of Commerce’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, Food index was at 124.3 points by the end of the second quarter of 2009, which means that the overall cost of food items have gone up by 20% by one year. Although the 13.6% increase that was authorized under ARRA was welcomed by local Food Stamp recipients, there was concern that the increase was not reflective of the actual rise in food costs in American Samoa and fell short of helping our low-income families cope during these difficult economic times.
Governor Togiola said DHSS has announced that to avoid the rush and unnecessary crowding at the ASNAP office, new applications will not be accepted during the first two weeks of the new year when ASNAP staff will be distributing Food Stamp coupons for January. ASNAP will begin accepting new applications beginning January 18, 2010.
---americansamoa.gov---
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