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Pennsylvania food stamp recipients will soon be able to buy food online

Pennsylvania is one of 13 new states where food stamp participants will soon be able to buy food online using their SNAP benefits.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Wednesday that Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia have been added to the list of states where online purchasing is available.

Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia have access to the program, which started last year. Five other states are already waiting to go live.

The two-year test program allowed SNAP participants for the first time to select and pay for their groceries online.

“People who receive SNAP benefits should have the opportunity to shop for food the same way more and more Americans shop for food – by ordering and paying for groceries online. As technology advances, it is important for SNAP to advance too, so we can ensure the same shopping options are available for both non-SNAP and SNAP recipients,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said.

As the pandemic continues, Perdue said it was important to expand the pilot and give as many people access to online purchasing as possible. Once the new states are added in, totaling 36 states and the District of Columbia, more than 90% of SNAP participants will be covered.

“We are expanding new flexibilities and innovative programs to make sure Americans across this country have safe and nutritious food during this national emergency,” said Secretary Perdue. “Enabling people to purchase foods online will go a long way in helping Americans follow CDC social distancing guidelines and help slow the spread of the coronavirus. USDA is mandated with the noble goal of feeding Americans when they need it most, and we are fulfilling that mission with new innovative programs during this national emergency.”

The pilot started with retailers Amazon, Walmart and ShopRite. Perdue announced Wednesday that more independently owned and operated retail stores will soon be added.

For more details on the program and what’s available to you, click here.