As many as 750,000 families in New York state are now eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program following a change in the program's rules.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning July 1 families of three whose total monthly income is $2,512 or less will be able to receive SNAP benefits. Previously a family of three had to make $2,177 or less to be eligible.
The expansion means the state will receive $688 million in additional federal SNAP benefits each year.
Almost three million residents of New York already receive supplemental nutritional assistance.
The Democratic governor says it is unacceptable for New York to allow anyone to go hungry and that the move is a "bold step" to ending hunger in the state.
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