Hoosiers may now use SNAP benefits to order groceries online. Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Jennifer Sullivan announced Wednesday that the program is officially up and running.
“Because of COVID-19 and its economic consequences, we now have more than 100,000 additional Hoosiers relying on the SNAP program to help feed themselves and their families,” Sullivan said during state officials’ COVID-19 briefing. “And while this service will initially and immediately address needs caused by the pandemic, we intend to keep this service in place permanently.” But SNAP recipients will only be able to order food from Amazon or Walmart under the program, and SNAP won’t cover the delivery fee.
Sullivan also announced Wednesday that those using the Healthy Indiana Plan will be able to keep some of their benefits while they transition to other health insurance coverage. “The HIP Workforce Bridge will allow thousands of outgoing HIP participants the ability to continue to use up to $1,000 from their POWER accounts, which are like health savings accounts, for up to 12 months to pay for premiums, deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance, as they transition to commercial coverage or other coverage,” Sullivan said. “Indiana becomes the first stage to establish such an innovative approach to eliminating the gap in health coverage that can prevent HIP members from pursuing meaningful employment.”
Indiana has also gotten almost $1 million from FEMA to establish a crisis counseling program at Indiana 211.
