Welfare in U.S. under Biden’s Presidency (nutrition assistance)

Abstract

Pandemic has shown the growing importance of the cash, food, housing and medical care for the lower-income households. The supplemental nutrition assistance program, formerly known as the food stamps, for low-income American households, mainly with children; seniors, people with disabilities, is of special attention because of growing number those who worry a great deal about hunger and homelessness. In each state there’re its own application rules, but eligibility for benefits, income of potential recipients, household composition, and other aspects must be documented. Being the primary source of nutrition assistance for millions of Americans this program has become extremely needed during pandemic when food hardships were growing on especially among people of color; and according to the official data the number of households in need for enough food became three times more than pre-pandemic levels. Additional investments to food assistance programs are aimed to meet the challenge of those people in need; widen supplemental nutrition program for women, infants; help children by providing benefits in summer when they are out of school programs, etc. The second pandemic year level of food hardship still is remaining higher than pre-pandemic. It,s pointed out that huge part of the added during pandemic benefits are addressed for American households who’s income is less than half of the federal poverty level. So the Biden administration’s plans are connected not only with additional emergency benefits, but also with improving programs facing new challenges.