EBT emergency funds expiring during historic grocery inflation
I volunteer with friends at a county food bank program some Saturdays, and this came up yesterday.
During Covid, California EBT started issuing an extra $95 a month to families and individuals. This extra allotment is set to expire on October 1st, 2022. The state has been sending out letters to people saying their EBT will be bumped up starting Oct. 1st citing "cost of utility" increases. However . . . (can you see where this is about to go?)
They'll still be receiving less money for groceries every month. This will be about a 15% reduction (it varies depending on number of people in household).
Last month, the inflation rate for groceries hit 13.5% year over year, the highest since 1979.
Just wanted to throw this out there for those who think inflation is no big deal/fake/media conspiracy/"I don't see price increases at my store"/etc. that I hear all the time.
People barely making it are about to feel some shafting.
On the plus side, we recently successfully recruited a farmer's market we've been after for awhile to contribute to the boxes. So, wewt. In food deserts, people have trouble getting cheap produce, so those who use our program are getting more fruit and vegetables. At least it's something, because we expect demand to start going up even further.
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