Food stamp benefits rise due to Ike

AUSTIN (AP) — Food stamp benefits will rise in October for low-income families in Texas recovering from Hurricane Ike, state officials said.

State officials said Wednesday they requested federal approval to increase benefits for more than 240,000 families in 29 Texas counties whose expenses have gone up because of the storm.

"Our offices have been seeing many low-income families who aren't currently receiving food stamps," Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins said in a statement. "In many cases, these families lost food because of power outages or flooding, and they're also facing other financial pressures this month."

The amount of food assistance depends on family size and income. The Houston Chronicle reported in its Thursday editions that a single person making no more than $870 a month will receive $170 instead of the standard allotment of $14. A family of three with an income no more than $1,143 will receive $451 in food stamps, up from $120.