The Department of Human and Social Services has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Service (USDA FNS), to issue a one-time, end of year benefit for recipients of the ASNAP (American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program).
The payment is $496 for all ASNAP recipients currently receiving $277 monthly, and $336 for their additional family members currently receiving $208.
The EOY benefits will be paid using unspent ASNAP and ARPA funds from the current fiscal year budget.
USDA has also approved DHSS’ request to extend the expiration date of the ARPA benefits to November 15, 2023, to give participants more time to use their benefits. However, the regular ASNAP benefits and the EOY benefits will expire on September 30, 2023.
ASNAP recipients are advised to check the expiration dates on their food coupons to make sure they spend their benefits within the allowable period.
With these EOY benefits, all ASNAP participants who currently receive $277 will receive a one-time total of $773 per person in food coupons for the month of September.
Individuals who are approved as an “additional family member” of ASNAP participants and are currently receiving $208, will receive a total of $544 per person in food coupons for the month of September.
The EOY benefits will be distributed along with the regular monthly benefits for September by the ASNAP Office beginning today, September 1st through Friday, September 29th, 2023 in alphabetical order.
