Supplemental food benefits set to end in March

Emergency food benefits instituted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will be ending in March. 

Supplemental food allotments from a national Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program began in March 2020. Eligible households have been receiving at least an extra $95 per month, on top of regular monthly benefits. Now a change at the federal level means February will be the final month for the emergency allotments.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the average FNS benefit per person per day will decrease from $8.12 to $5.45.

On average, 900,000 North Carolina households received emergency allotments during the pandemic, which gave families greater food purchasing power.

Regular monthly benefits will continue as of March.

NCDHHS officials say they are committed to addressing food insecurity and urge people to visit their website to learn about other options such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC.