Effective January 1, 2013, Ohio SNAP/Food Stamp recipients began receiving $10 to $20 less per month in benefit amounts, based on a change in the Standard Utility Allowance, a deduction in income for household utility costs that is used to determine eligibility. Because of last winter’s unusually warm weather, it cost less for many SNAP/Food Stamp recipients in the state to heat their homes. “The formula does not factor in natural gas or that other monthly expenses have gone up and cancelled out any savings that families may have seen in their heating bills,” said Dana Glassburn, director of Gallia County Department of Jobs and Family Services. “On one hand, we have food banks that can’t keep enough food stocked to serve everyone who needs it, and then a benefit reduction is going on at the same time we have Ohio taxpayers who can’t afford it,” said Glassburn. “It’s really about jobs…and helping people to become more self-sufficient.” (FRAC: www.frac.org)
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