SANTA FE – New Mexico households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of March as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced the New Mexico Human Services Department.

“These benefits are critical to New Mexico’s ongoing COVID-19 response,” said Karmela Martinez, director of the Income Support Division which administers the SNAP program, formally known as food stamps. “Many New Mexicans continue to rely on these emergency SNAP benefits to keep their families fed.”

The emergency assistance will increase a household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum food benefit amount for their household size (see table below). SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these additional food benefits as they will be placed directly on their EBT cards.

SNAP recipients with a regular issuance date of March 1-13, will receive a supplement on March 13, 2021. SNAP recipients with a regular issuance date of March 14-20, will receive their benefits and the supplement on their regular issuance date.

It has been a year since, SNAP households that were not already receiving the maximum SNAP food benefit for their household size have received an increase bringing their food benefits to the maximum amount each month. These increases were made to help reduce food insecurity for New Mexicans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals seeking to apply for SNAP benefits may apply online through www.yes.state.nm.us or by phone at 1-800-283-4465. Newly approved SNAP recipients will be eligible for the supplemental benefit.

The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to more than 1 million New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.

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