The state of New Jersey is boosting food stamp benefits by $95 a month for some 231,000 households. The increase, announced on Tuesday, comes after the federal government allocated $16.3 million more for the state’s food programs. 

The Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently provides benefits to over 800,000 New Jerseyans and about 423,000 households, but only those who have not received their full allotment of nutrition assistance will see their benefits rise.

The additional funding from the Biden administration comes as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law by the president in March, but around 25 million low-income families across the United States never saw an increase in their SNAP benefits because they were already getting the maximum benefit, an issue which is now being rectified.

“The emergency SNAP increases authorized by Congress last year were not being distributed equitable, and the poorest households, who have the least ability to absorb the economic shocks brought about by Covid, received little to no emergency benefit increases,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

Families can check for updates on their SNAP benefits at NJSNAP.gov and can see their benefits balance at NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling 1-800-997-3333.