LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A raise can sound good to many families, though some families in central Arkansas are questioning if a new increase in federal benefits will be enough to help deal with rising prices.
The average increase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries starting on Oct. 1 is around 89 cents a month. The change is due to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
More SNAP changes coming Oct. 1
So how does that SNAP increase stack up with inflation? In August, the Federal Consumer Price Index showed food prices went up 2.1% in a year. It is an improvement from the 4.3% jump seen in 2023 and the 11.4% spike in 2022, but with prices still inflating, some SNAP beneficiaries say their supports are not keeping up to higher costs.
Sharon Nims is a barber who receives help from SNAP for groceries, but on Wednesday she was in line at a Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock food bank.
“Price increases on everything has made it tougher to survive so you do need that extra helping hand,” Nims said.