The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) presented two updates Feb. 20 relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aimed at supporting working families, it said in a news release.

Beginning March 1, DHHS will increase a supplemental benefit for low-income working families. The supplement will more than triple from $15 to $50 per month for approximately 13,000 working families receiving SNAP benefits.

The Department will use existing unspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant funds to increase the Working Families Supplement benefit, a monthly benefit added to a SNAP participant's electronic benefit transaction card. It is provided to participants who work at least 30 hours a week, or 20 hours if they have a child less than six years of age, and qualify for SNAP benefits.

The increase was authorized by the Maine State Legislature in 2011 and is funded through TANF, which provides temporary cash assistance and other supports to low-income families with children in the home. There are sufficient TANF funds to support the $5.7 million annual cost of this change.

This supplement aims to help bridge the financial gap for families transitioning from benefits to personal income. That population is most at risk for falling off the so-called "cliff" that occurs when families lose financial supports before personal incomes can meet their basic needs. This support helps families remain financially stable while working to increase their earnings, making it more likely that they remain in their jobs and become financially independent. Families receiving the supplement are not subject to the 60-month cap on benefits under TANF.

DHHS also announced that individuals and families who participate in SNAP will receive their March benefits early to limit the ongoing effects of last month's federal government shutdown. SNAP participants previously received their February allotment early, on January 17th in response to the shutdown. Maine participants who were scheduled to receive a SNAP benefit March 10-14 will receive it on March 3. They will not receive another allotment in March.

"Too many Maine families who receive SNAP and TANF are still going hungry because their level of aid is simply inadequate," said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, in the release. "Putting this existing funding to use will help provide the resources they need to feed themselves, take care of their basic level of needs, and position themselves to get to work."