Changes Coming To Oklahoma's Food Stamp Program

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- If you get federal food stamps, there are some changes coming.

Right now, households get their food stamp benefits on the 1st of every month, but beginning April 1, 2011, DHS will stagger the dates instead.

The idea is to have families shop at different times of the month, allowing stores to restock their inventories and offer a better selection of fresh food.

Households will be divided into three groups, using the last digit of their case number.

• Case numbers ending in zero through three will get their benefits on the 1st of the month.
• Numbers four through six, on the 5th of each month
• Numbers seven through nine will get theirs on the 10th of each month.

"We don't expect any major problems with this change," Kathie Wright, SNAP Program Manager for the OKDHS said. "Undoubtedly there may be some initial confusion as we implement the additional days, so we urge our customers to contact their local county social worker for any questions they may have."

See the new schedule