NAP increases max allotment, income level eligibility

The Nutrition Assistance Program currently has 5,364 household food stamp benefit recipients on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands. The figure actually represents an estimated increase of 150 recipients from June 2023 to June 2024.

According to NAP administrator Margarita Aldan, for the past few months they received an average of 30 applications per month for the program and agreed when asked if a rise in applications could indicate the economic situation in the CNMI.

“Because if we get an increase, we know that companies are closing or companies are reducing their hours and when they are coming (the applicants), we see that in the application too, because they have to put in their income there, you know, check stub or what other resource they have, if there is zero income,” said Aldan.

NAP Administrator Services manager Angel Demapan mentioned that individuals can be eligible for the food stamps benefit if their income falls within the bracket.

“When there is a reduction of hours, and that reduction results in that individual or that household meeting the income threshold, then it brings them into the eligibility bracket. Some people have reductions in hours, but it’s still above the income level, so they don’t, they cannot apply for that assistance, ‘’ said Demapan.

Meanwhile, NAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and resource limits have been increased effective April 1, 2024, for Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands.

An individual receiving a maximum allotment on Saipan was increased from $415 to $430, on Tinian from $439 to $455, and on Rota and the Northern Islands are just the same from $505 to $523.

The income eligibility standards and resource limits apply to all islands in the CNMI utilizing the same standards for eligibility determination wherein the income eligibility standard for an individual increased from $1,473 to $1,580 of monthly gross income.

Households (HH) of two max gross income eligibility increased from $1,984 to $2,137, while the max allotment on Saipan increased from $761 to $788, Tinian from $804 to $833, and Rota and Northern Islands from $925 to $958.

Max allotment for households of three on Saipan increased from $1,090 to $1,129, HH of four from $1,385 to $1,434, HH of five from $1,644 to $1,703, HH of six from $1,973 to $2,044, HH of seven from $2,181 to $2, 259, HH of eight from $2,493 to $2,581, HH of nine from $2,805 to $2,904, HH of 10 from $3,117 to $3,227, HH of 11 from $3,429 to $3,550, HH of 12 from $ 3,741 to $3,873, HH of 13 from $4,053 to $4,196, HH of 14 from $4,365 to $4,519, HH of 15 from $4,677 to $4,842, HH of 16 from $4,989 to $5,165, HH of 17 from $5,301 to $5,488, HH of 18 from $5,613 to $5,811, HH of 19 from $5,925 to $6,134, HH of 20 from $6,737 to $6,457, HH of 21 from $6,549 to $6,780, and HH 22 from $6,861 to $7,103.

For Tinian, the max allotment for households of three increased from $1,152 to $1,193, HH of four from $1,464 to $1,516, HH of five from $1,736 to $1,800, HH of six from $2,084 to $2,161 HH of seven from $2,304 to $2,338, HH of eight from $2,634 to $2,572, HH of nine from $2,964 to $3,070, HH of 10 from $3,294 to $3,411, HH of 11 from $3,624 to $3,752, HH of 12 from $ 3,954 to $4,094, HH of 13 from $4,284 to $4,435, HH of 14 from $4,614 to $4,777, HH of 15 from $4,944 to $5,118, HH of 16 from $5,274 to $5,459, HH of 17 from $5,604 to $5,801, HH of 18 from $5,934 to $6,142, HH of 19 from $6,264 to $6,484, HH of 20 from $6,594 to $6,825, HH of 21 from $6,924 to $7,166, and HH 22 from $7,254 to $7,508.

While on Rota and Northern Islands, the max allotment for households of three increased from $1,326 to $1,373, HH of four from $1,685 to $1,744, HH of five from $2,000 to $2,071, HH of six from $2,400 to $2,486 HH of seven from $2,652 to $2,747, HH of eight from $3,032 to $3,138, HH of nine from $3,411 to $3,531, HH of 10 from $3,791 to $3,924, HH of 11 from $4,171 to $4,317, HH of 12 from $34,550 to $4,710, HH of 13 from $4,920 to $5,102, HH of 14 from $5,309 to $5,495, HH of 15 from $5,689 to $5,888, HH of 16 from $6,096 to $6,281, HH of 17 from $6,448 to $6,673, HH of 18 from $6,828 to $7,066, HH of 19 from $7,202 to $7,459, HH of 20 from $7,587 to $7,852, HH of 21 from $7,986 to $8, 244, and HH 22 from $8,346 to $8,637.

The max gross income eligibility from HH of three increased from $2,495 to $2,694, HH of four from $3,007 to $3,250, HH of five from $3,518 to $3,807, HH of six from $4,029 to $4,364, HH of seven from $4,541 to $4,921, HH of eight from $5.052 to $ 5,478, HH of nine from $5,564 to $6,035, HH of 10 from $6,076 to $6,592, HH of 11 from $6,588 to $7,149, HH of 12 from $7,100 to $7,706, HH of 13 from $7,612 to $8,263, HH of 14 from $8,124 to $8,820, HH of 15 from $8,636 to $9,377, HH of 16 from $9,148 to $9,934, HH of 17 from $9,660 to $10,491, HH of 18 from $10,172 to $11,048, HH of 19 from $10,684 to $11,605, HH of 20 from $11,196 to $12,162, HH of 21 from $11,708 to $12,719, and HH of 22 from $12,220 to $13,276.