Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) has approved a one-time payment of end-of-year benefits of $200 to all participants in the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP), using unspent funds from the ASNAP current fiscal year budget.

This is aside from the P-EBT benefits for school children.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the director, Muavaefa’atasi John Suisala.

 “All ASNAP participants will receive their regular monthly ASNAP benefits for September in addition to the $200 end-of-year benefits.

 “The end-of-year benefits will be distributed along with the regular monthly benefits for September by the ASNAP Office beginning Thursday, September 1 through Friday, September 30, 2022 by alphabetical order for ease of distribution. “

According to the press statement, All ASNAP food coupons, including end-of-year benefits, must be spent on or before they expire on September 30, 2022.

 “Since the ASNAP is also currently issuing P-EBT benefits for school children at this time, the following schedule for mass issuance of ASNAP and P-EBT benefits is provided for the convenience of all ASNAP and P-EBT clients for the first 10 working days of the month.

 “We will only accept clients who have been approved to receive ASNAP and P-EBT benefits during the first 10 working days of the month.

 “Clients who missed their scheduled day may come any day starting September 16 through September 30, 2022.

 “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support to avoid unnecessary crowds and long waiting times.”

The mass issuance of benefits to ASNAP clients will occur during the first ten business days of September 2022

Furthermore the statement says the Department welcomes parents/ legal guardians with last names beginning with letters T & U whose P-EBT registrations are still pending dispositions on Friday, September 16 to come in to check the status of their registrations.

 “Director Muavaefa’atasi extends his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Food Nutrition Service Western Regional Administrator, Jesus Mendoza, and the Western Region team for their continued support of American Samoa’s nutrition needs.

The DHSS director also urges all ASNAP and P-EBT recipients to spend their benefits wisely to purchase healthy foods for better health outcomes.”