The Double Up Bucks Program gives food stamp or Bridge card recipients dollar-for-dollar credit for buying fresh fruit and vegetables from farmers markets and participating grocery stores.
Now there are three major changes to help families build up savings on their food assistance account.
Program Director Rachel Hoh says first, there’s no longer a $20 daily limit for Double Up Bucks.
“Now that daily match for earnings is unlimited. A shopper could come in and spend $50 preparing for Thanksgiving or Christmas on squash and potatoes and brussels sprouts and then they'll receive another $50 that they can spend at a later time on fruit and vegetables.”
Frozen fruits and vegetables are now eligible too so families can stock up.
Second, earnings no longer expire after 90 days and third, the program is offering $40 vouchers that will not require a matching SNAP purchase.
That helps families who may have already used their funds ahead of the November 1st stoppage.
“Some of these changes may take a couple days to be updated at your store where you shop. So, if you go shop at a store and all these changes aren't in place or there's not vouchers available, give us a call at our hotline (866-586-2796) and we have our team there to make things right for you.”
Hoh says the program changes will continue until the end of 2025, no matter what happens with SNAP benefits in the next couple of weeks.
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