Officials in Brunswick County are trying to get the word out about changes that will affect food stamp recipients nationwide: Though benefits will go up in October, they will drop in November.Summary
Facts - Rise, then fall

Though social services employees cannot determine how much any individual will receive after food stamp benefit changes, they estimate the cuts for those receiving the maximum benefits as follows:

Household size Prior to Nov. 1 After Nov. 1 Difference
1 $200 $189 $11
3 $526 $497 $29
4 $668 $632 $36
5 $793 $750 $43
6 $952 $900 $52
7 $1,052 $995 $57
8 $1202 $1,137 $65
Each additional member $150 $142 $8

Source: Brunswick County government
In October, the program's annual cost-of-living adjustment will provide an increase in the amount of benefits program recipients see, effective Oct. 1. Reductions will follow in November as a result of the loss of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was put in place in 2009, Brunswick officials said.

"In other words, people will see an increase in benefits in October, but then see a reduction in November," said Cathy Lytch, Brunswick County's social services director, in a statement. "We know this reduction will create a hardship, which is why we want people to be aware that there will be a decrease, so they can plan ahead."

According to estimates, the change will cut a family of three receiving the maximum benefit by $29 a month, from $526 to $497.

Despite the cost-of-living boost some recipients will see this month, all will see cuts in November, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Local officials stressed that the decision for the reduction is based solely on federal requirements and the local office has no control over the amount of reductions.

Local departments of social services administer the Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP.

In the case of the temporary boost provided by the stimulus act, a household is not able to appeal the decrease in benefits because it is the result of a change in federal law, according to the state DHHS.

Notice was sent to all county DSS offices on Sept. 5, DHHS said in a release.

The food stamp program has seen several changes recently, including an online application system called ePASS, available at epass.nc.gov, which is tied to the new NC FAST computer system. Some benefits have been delayed due to glitches with the state's implementation of the NC FAST system.

Food stamp benefits are issued automatically on an EBT card monthly. The system will determine the reduction amount for each case.

Recipients are encouraged to call the EBT call center at (866) 719-0414 on their benefit issuance date to find out how much is on their card.

"We want people to realize it is not a glitch in the system, nor a decision made locally," Lytch said.