More than $48 Million to be issued on January 20th 

SANTA FE — The State Human Services Department’s (HSD) Income Support Division (ISD) worked overtime during the past six days to process 12,000 new and 14,000 renewed SNAP applications in order for some 212,563 families to receive their February benefit on January 20, 2019.

“Nearly 500 ISD staff worked over the weekend and into the late evening hours to conduct outreach and process the SNAP applications and renewals that came in to ensure New Mexico families get the food benefits they are eligible for,”  said David R. Scrase, M.D., HSD Secretary – Designate. “That shows the dedication this Department has to New Mexico families who rely on our services to make ends meet each and every month.”

Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the SNAP program was not funded beyond January 31, 2019.  However, in an effort to minimize the impact of the shutdown, HSD decided to participate in a waiver option from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will provide an early issuance of the February benefits on January 20. 

It is important for families to recognize that the early release of the February benefit in January is not a double payment but is the SNAP benefit for the month of February itself.

For those SNAP recipients who did not get their renewal submitted by the January 15 deadline for the February benefit, the ISD will be using contingency funds for new and renewal applicants. The contingency fund is a limited resource that the Federal Government just announced to states to use during the Government Shutdown through the month of February. This means new and renewal applicants still have an opportunity to receive a February benefit. 

The SNAP program is eligible to families with income levels at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For example a family of four with a monthly income below $3,452 would likely qualify. 

To learn more about the SNAP and other food assistance programs, visit the HSD website.