Three months after retroactively boosting food stamp allocations by 15%, New Mexico’s Human Services Department has announced another automatic maximum payment to SNAP recipients this month.
Whether that allotment is $234 or $1,408, “New Mexico households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of June,” the Human Services Department said.
The caveat?
There isn’t one.
“SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these additional food benefits as they will be placed directly on their EBT cards.”
— NM Human Services Department press release (June 15, 2021)
New Mexico ranks first in the nation in food stamp dependency, with 21.5% of the state taking advantage of the program — nearly double the 12% national average. (By comparison, 11.12% of Arizonans, 11.76% of Texans, and 7.74% of Coloradans use SNAP.)
“HSD is committed to providing these much-needed emergency benefits to New Mexicans. These benefits will continue to help many families keep food on the table.”
— Karmela Martinez, director of the Income Support Division
Indeed.
But to what end?
With 43% of SNAP beneficiaries earning below the poverty line and “help wanted” signs plastered on virtually every business you see, the $234 minimum SNAP allocation is the equivalent of working 26 hours a week for minimum wage.
But between unemployment insurance and free food, there’s little incentive to join the workforce. Which helps explain why New Mexico ranks third in national unemployment.
New Mexicans are in for a rude awakening come September 2021, when SNAP benefits fall to pre-pandemic levels and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program ends its additional $300 weekly unemployment benefit.
Then again, New Mexico ranked first in SNAP recipients and unemployment long before the COVID pandemic hit.
When the government keeps citizens on the dole, incentivizing dependence over dignity and self-responsibility, it’s no wonder New Mexico continually ranks last nationally.
A man who needn’t feed himself will not hunt.
Categories: Lamenting Leftism
The Conservative New Mexican 
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