COLUMBIA—Gov. Henry McMaster and S.C. Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Michael Leach extended the deadline for federally-funded emergency supplements July 30 for lower-income elderly, young and at-risk South Carolinians through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Benefits were set to expire Aug. 1 when the state of emergency declared for COVID-19 ended. SNAP recipients will continue receiving monthly supplements through the end of the year, helping them to purchase household goods. Gov. McMaster authorized DSS to receive emergency SNAP supplements until Dec. 31, or until termination of the federal government’s public health emergency. 

Approximately 295,000 households across the state currently receive nutritional assistance from the SNAP program, according to Leach’s letter to the governor.

Gov. McMaster responded, “Our moral and ethical duty during the COVID-19 pandemic is to protect the lives of the most vulnerable South Carolinians — our elderly, young and at-risk population. Currently, the Department of Social Services is providing 610,000 vulnerable South Carolinians with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits for the purchase of household food.” 

Vulnerable and at-risk South Carolinians can continue to receive the nutrition and assistance they need thanks to this extension.