Some food stamp recipients in Alabama received extra funds this week amid the growing coronavirus crisis.

Preston Hornsby, governmental relations manager for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, told AL.com Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries received funds in their accounts today that increased March benefits to the monthly maximum for their family size, regardless of household income.

“A supplement will also be received at the end of April as part of the response to the COVID-19 virus. Benefits are good for up to a year, so SNAP recipients do not have to use the additional benefits immediately,” Hornsby said.

Families already receiving the monthly maximum benefit will not receive the supplement.

Food stamp benefits are determined by the number of people and income in a household. Maximum benefits range from $194 for a single-person household to $1,164 for a household of eight people. A beneficiary receiving less than their household’s size monthly maximum will now be bumped up to the higher level.

As of December 2019, some 711,384 Alabamians received food stamp benefits.

Alabama food stamp recipients can now buy food online through Amazon