The USDA announced on April 1st that $1 billion would be added to food assistance each month to provide an estimated 25 million recipients with additional assistance. Not all households are receiving additional support including 40 percent with children, 20 percent with an elderly resident and 15 percent with someone who is disabled.

According to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, "the emergency SNAP increases authorized by Congress last year were not being distributed equitably and the poorest households-who had the least ability to absorb the economic shocks brought about by COVID-received little to no emergency benefit increases".  He added, "today's actions will provide much-needed support for those who need it most".  Since the start of the pandemic, USDA has issued about $29 billion in additional benefits to bring all SNAP households up to the maximum for their household size. 

The January 22nd Executive Order on Economic Relief related to the COVID-19 Pandemic directed all Federal agencies to consider administrative actions to better address the current economic and social crises resulting from the pandemic.