Delayed EBT payments in Georgia: What’s causing the hold-up?

Delays in SNAP Benefits Leave Georgia Residents Hungry

Many low-income families in Georgia are facing a frustrating setback in receiving their much-needed benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program helps approximately 1.6 million people, or 15% of the state’s population, provide food for their households.

On average, each household member receives $188 per month in SNAP benefits. However, recipients in Georgia have been reporting significant delays in receiving their benefits, with some waiting for months.

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has attributed these delays to federal regulators and is working diligently to process all applications and renewals as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the department is facing challenges due to federal rules and requirements that hinder the streamlining of this process.

Seeking Flexibility from Federal Regulators

The Georgia DHS has been in frequent communication with federal counterparts, urging them to grant waivers that would allow for the implementation of new technology and automation to expedite the processing of SNAP cases. However, many of these waiver requests have remained pending for about a year.

Despite these obstacles, the department continues to explore ways to secure more flexibility from federal regulators to ensure cases are processed more efficiently. In May alone, the dedicated staff at the Georgia DHS completed 84,420 SNAP renewals.

To check the status of their application or renewal, customers can conveniently log into their Georgia Gateway account at gateway.ga.gov.

SNAP benefits are calculated based on household income and size, with the recipient’s income generally needing to be at or below 130% of the poverty line. For fiscal year 2023, the poverty line used to determine SNAP benefits is $1,920 per month.

On average, a household of three receives $577 per month in SNAP benefits, with a maximum of $740. For a household of eight, the average payment is $1,150, with a maximum of $1,691. Any household with more than eight members can calculate their benefits by adding a maximum of $211 per additional person.

Despite the challenges, the Georgia DHS remains committed to ensuring that eligible residents receive the vital assistance they need to put food on their tables.

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