The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced it will update how it calculates Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Hawaii to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food across the state.
Now through March 4, the USDA will seek information from stakeholders statewide about food prices and how the program can better serve local communities.
The USDA currently uses food cost data from the City and County of Honolulu and does not account for the higher cost of food for those living in the other counties when evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines the maximum SNAP benefit for the state.
U.S. Rep. Tokuda (D-Hawaii, second congressional district) introduced legislation in July to separate the Thrifty Food Plan study in Hawaii between urban and rural communities, which would better account for the cost of local food and help more families afford healthy and nutritious food.
“I am pleased that the USDA recognizes the gross miscalculation that has been occurring in only considering food costs in Honolulu,” said Tokuda said Thursday in a statement. “It has been unacceptable to me that SNAP benefits for Hawaii have been calculated in a way that ignores every island other than Oahu which is contributing to a reduction of SNAP benefits for Hawaii families.
“When I fly throughout my district, I walk through grocery store aisles and see the higher prices and often empty shelves. Our ‘ohana in the Second Congressional District deserve better, and I encourage the local food industry and research community to participate in the USDA’s Request for Information and submit comments on the price of food across our state.”
Because food prices in Hawaii are among the highest in the nation, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) worked directly with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and urged him to update its cost analysis in the state.
Following the initial phase to gather information, the USDA may then use that data to propose and finalize a new rule to ensure benefits take into account food costs.
“For many in Hawaii, SNAP is a lifeline, helping families put food on the table,” Schatz said in a statement. “But to make sure this program continues to help those who rely on it, SNAP benefits need to keep up with the real cost of food across the state. I thank the USDA and Secretary Vilsack for working with us to update SNAP benefits … so that those who need it can continue to access this critical federal program.”
SNAP is a federal program administered in Hawaii by the state Department of Human Services. Nearly 200,000 Hawaii residents, or about 14% of the state’s population, rely on SNAP.
The public can submit comments to the USDA online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Comments also can be submitted via email to fns.foodplans@usda.gov or mailed to Kevin Meyers Mathieu, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Fourth Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All comments received in response to this notice will be a matter of public record.