Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The state program lost the majority of its budget last fall, when the Trump administration eliminated funding for SNAP-Ed. Now it’s spreading out educators and exploring more online classes.

Gov. Mark Gordon’s office submitted a waiver last month to the federal government for approval to ban people from using SNAP benefits to purchase soda and candy. That’s as a bill to try and create more restrictions on spices and other ingredients failed to gain momentum during the first week of the budget session in Cheyenne.

That’s following the back-and-forth about the funding of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown in November.

Wyoming SNAP benefits could start hitting accounts as soon as Friday. Meanwhile, LIEAP has yet to be refunded by federal lawmakers.

The effort is a response to the ongoing back-and-forth about funding for federal SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

The report adds the number of kids living in poverty in the state would more than double without the support of public programs like child tax credits or food assistance.

The money will go to organizations and churches running food banks and food pantries across the state.

Roughly 28,000 Wyomingites receive SNAP benefits each month, with an average payment of about $185 per person.

Next October, states will take on 75% of the price tag of processing benefits and figuring out eligibility. The federal government and states previously split those administrative costs 50-50.

The federally-run and state-administered program has created learning opportunities for low-income folks in the Cowboy State for over three decades.