AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provided roughly $188 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of September, Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday.
The increased benefits are due to the state's ongoing battle with COVID-19.
"Texas will continue to ensure access to nutritious meals as we mitigate the spread of COVID-19," said Governor Abbott. "This emergency SNAP extension will help Texans provide healthy food for their families."
"As families return to school, this extension helps Texans purchase healthy, nutritious foods for their households," said Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter.
The governor says more than 972,000 SNAP households will see the additional amount on their Lone Star Card by September 15.
The emergency September allotments are in addition to the more than $1 billion in benefits previously provided to Texans between April and August.
HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size.