The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday announced changes to its Thrifty Food Plan, the basis of its formula for determining food stamp benefits, modernizing the program and increasing its purchasing power for the first time in its over 40-year history.
The Thrifty Food Plan, one of four budgets created by the USDA to suggest general cost levels of nutritious diets for children and families, was first instituted in the 1970s and, aside from cost-of-living adjustments, has not been updated to reflect changes in dietary recommendations or broader economic trends.
As the plan is used to determine maximum allotments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — commonly known as food stamps — critics have often said it placed a healthy lifestyle out of reach of those receiving aid.
The updated plan includes a 21% increase in budget, which would result in an average monthly increase of $36.24 for those enrolled in the program. USDA projections say Indiana could see as much as $298 million in additional benefits in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
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Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, said that rather than continue to adjust an outdated budget, the new plan more accurately reflects the current needs and realities of the average American family.
“The background formula was based on food preparation costs and nutrition standards that were developed in 1975,” she…
