THE Department of Community and Cultural Affairs-Nutrition Assistance Program has increased the income eligibility standards and the maximum monthly benefit allotments effective Feb. 1, 2021.
Walter Macaranas
Moreover, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation has been excluded from being considered as income for NAP eligibility effective Dec. 27, 2020.
NAP Administrator Walter Macaranas said current NAP households that have been certified for February 2021 will see their benefits increase automatically.
He said the income eligibility standards, also known as the maximum income guidelines, are the threshold that sets limits to the eligibility for a household’s gross monthly income inclusive of the number of persons residing in the applicant household.
The maximum monthly benefit levels are the maximum amount of benefit dollars a household may receive in a month based on the household income and the number of eligible members in the household, he said.
The increased levels will be implemented through Sept. 30, 2021 Macaranas added.
The approved income eligibility standards will be equal to the SNAP FY 2021 (100%) poverty level utilized by the 48 states, D.C., Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands for the SNAP net income test.
“This is an increase of approximately 35.7% from the level previously authorized level for FY 2021, an increase from $1,610 to $2,184,” Macaranas said.
In addition, the maximum monthly benefit allotment for Saipan will be equal to Guam’s SNAP FY 2021 maximum benefit allotment.
This is an increase of 41.5% from $708 to $1,002 for a household size of four on Saipan, he added.
Tinian’s maximum allotment will be higher than Saipan by 5.7%, while Rota and the Northern Islands will be 21.7% above Saipan allotments, he said.
According to Macaranas, the increased benefits were made possible by the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which became law on Dec. 27, 2020.
Section 704 of the Act provided $614 million to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and American Samoa for nutrition assistance in response to the Covid-19 public health emergency. Of this amount, $14 million will be available to the CNMI through Sept. 30, 2021.
Exclusion
Macaranas said the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 also excluded the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation from being considered as income for NAP eligibility effective Dec. 27, 2020.
To apply or receive an application for nutrition assistance or for more information, individuals may visit the Nutrition Assistance Program office at the JTV Commercial Building in As Lito or the NAP website at https://cnminap.gov.mp
You may also call the NAP office at 237-2842 or -2843.
