Participants of the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP) who picked up their food stamps on Thursday received the full amounts.
Director of the Department of Human and Social Services, Panisia Neueli, said in a press release that following the reopening of the federal government, DHSS received updated guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, which restores food stamp benefits for November to 100%.
Therefore, all ASNAP recipients who picked up their benefits on Thursday through November 20, according to the current DHSS current schedule, will receive 100% of their authorized ASNAP benefit levels.
Those who picked up their benefits before yesterday only received 65% of their food stamp levels. The DHSS Director said a schedule is to be issued today, Friday, for those recipients to pick up the balance of their food stamps or restoration benefits.
Neueli asks participants to keep to their assigned dates for the restoration schedule so the ASNAP team can better serve them.
The latest USDA FNS guidance also confirms that ASNAP benefit levels will remain at 100% from this point forward.
The DHSS Director expressed appreciation to everyone who worked tirelessly to reopen the federal government and restore programs and services that our communities depend on, like our ASNAP or Food Stamp benefits.
DHSS remains thankful to the FNS WRO Regional Administrator Muzafar Makhdoomi and his team for their steadfast support for American Samoa’s supplemental food assistance programs.
