NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico has temporarily expanded SNAP benefits for residents impacted by disaster to allow them to purchase hot and ready-to-eat foods from deli departments.
The temporary change applies to customers in Lincoln, Chaves, De Baca, Guadalupe, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Torrance counties and will remain in effect through Aug. 30.
“When disaster happens, families shouldn’t have to worry about how they’re going to put a hot meal on the table,” Kyra Ochoa, deputy secretary for the Health Care Authority, said in a news release. “The ability to buy ready-to-eat, warm meals for themselves and their families can make a significant difference as they navigate tough circumstances.”
The waiver applies only to deli departments at EBT-authorized retailers and does not include restaurants or non-EBT-authorized retailers.