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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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SNAP recipients in Tennessee who received their May monthly benefit last weekend, much earlier than scheduled, told Newsweek that the early payments have left them scrambling for ways to feed their families until the beginning of June.
Kayla, who asked that her last name not be used, told Newsweek that she was very scared that she'll run out of benefits before she'll receive the next payment.
"I have four boys under the age of 12," she said. "I do not want to run out of food before the end of May and sadly that [SNAP benefits] is my way to feed my children. I have systemic lupus erytehmatosus [SLE] and Type 2 diabetes. I'm not able to work as my lupus is very severe."
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The SNAP monthly payment for next month should have been issued in the Volunteer State between May 1 and 20, according to a calendar shared with Newsweek. But several Tennessee recipients received their payment last weekend after what local news media described as a glitch in the system.
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The Tennessee Department of Human Services told WTVF in Nashville this week that benefits for May were made available to some SNAP and TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] customers on April 20, ahead of their scheduled distribution date.
"Today, we will be notifying affected customers via text message and email so they can plan accordingly," the department said on Monday.
Martika Mile, a single mom living in Tennessee, told Newsweek that she had not yet been contacted by Tennessee DHS.
"They must have forgotten about some of us," she said. "I only get $58 a month and I have a 3-year-old son. I have no income with the medical issues I have going on."
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Not being told the latest payment was for May "really puts the definition of 'struggle' on me as well as stress and frustration," she said. "What about families with multiple children? This is very inconvenient. I hope they figure it out soon because I have no idea what I'm going to do for next week, let alone next month."
Newsweek contacted the Tennessee DHS for comment by email on Thursday morning and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which oversees the program, about the early SNAP payments in Tennessee on Wednesday.
"Upon learning of this situation, FNS notified the State that they must ensure that all recipients are properly informed about the early issuance, and that all regulations and statutory provisions about the timing of SNAP benefits are carefully followed," a spokesperson for the USDA told Newsweek.
"SNAP participants rely on timely and accurate issuance of benefits each month to manage their food budgets and make healthy food choices for their families."
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Tennessee residents wrote to Newsweek confirming that recipients will be struggling to put enough food on the table in the coming weeks.
"Families should not suffer for this mistake," one reader wrote.
A Memphis resident told Newsweek she doesn't understand what SNAP recipients like her who got their monthly payment earlier should do until next month.
"What was the point in this? That means cash will have to be spent to make sure my kids have enough food for the month of May," she said. "I just don't get it, but it's very upsetting."
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