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One-time $80 bonus payment for all food stamp recipients

photo: [DHSS website]
Source: DHSS media release

Acting Director Muavaefa’atasi John E. Suisala of the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) is pleased to announce that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service, has just approved today a one-time bonus payment for all recipients of the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP) - generally known as the Food Stamp Program.  In making this announcement, Acting Director Muavaefa’atasi said, “Although this is a one-time payment, I am extremely happy that we are able to once again provide this bonus to help our vulnerable population put healthy food on their tables during these hard economic times”.  He continued, “This bonus will be paid from unused funds that were approved for ASNAP benefits for Fiscal Year 2017 and I am grateful to the USDA for their understanding of the need of our people”.

The $80 bonus payment will be included in their monthly benefits beginning Wednesday, September 6, 2017.  Since this was just approved late this morning, those who picked up their benefits Tuesday are kindly asked to come back to the ASNAP Office any day after mass issuance ends on September 12, 2017 to pick up their $80 bonus.  As a reminder, ASNAP benefits for September including the one-time bonus payment MUST be spent before September 30, 2017.

The ASNAP is currently serving over 4,100 low income elderly, blind and disabled individuals in American Samoa.  Applicants who are eligible for ASNAP benefits are issued monthly food coupons in the amounts of $56, $71, $89, $111 and $139 depending on their monthly gross income.  Almost 50% of recipients are receiving the full benefit level each month.

The ASNAP provides supplemental nutrition assistance in the form of nutrition education and food coupons to purchase nutritious and healthy foods.  The issuance schedule for the month of September follows:

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 – Last names beginning with the letters T & U

Thursday, September 7, 2017 – Last names beginning with the letters A, B, C, D, E, F

Friday, September 8, 2015 – Last names beginning with the letters G, H, I, J, K, L

Monday, September 11, 2017 – Last names beginning with letters M, N, O, P, Q, R

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 – Last names beginning with letters S, V, W, X, Y, Z