Republican Gov. Susana Martinez announced Monday she will extend a state program through September to supplement federal food-stamp benefits for about 4,000 low-income elderly and disabled New Mexicans.

Martinez will use federal economic stimulus money to prevent a reduction of food-stamp benefits starting in July, when the program otherwise would have ended.

The Legislature did not approve any money for the program in the upcoming fiscal year, which starts next month, although the Martinez administration had requested $650,000.

The governor estimated it will cost $50,000 a month to continue the food-stamp assistance.

A special session of the Legislature is planned in September to deal with redistricting, and Martinez said lawmakers can also use that time to consider whether to allocate money for the supplemental food-stamp program for the rest of the budget year.

"Protecting those most vulnerable in New Mexico is an important priority," Martinez said in a statement.

A social-services advocate welcomed the governor's announcement, which came a week after reports on the looming reduction in food-stamp benefits.

"That's wonderful," said Ruth Hoffman, director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in New Mexico. "I'm hoping that we can find the money for all of the fiscal year."

The federal government pays for food stamps, which is called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. However, New Mexico implemented a state-financed program in 2007 to boost the minimum benefits for low-income elderly — those ages 60 and older — and disabled residents.

The state currently provides extra payments to ensure that eligible New Mexicans get at least $25 a month in food-stamp assistance. The current minimum federal benefit is $16 a month.

Food-stamp eligibility and benefit amounts depend on a household's income. The government also takes into consideration some expenses, such as housing and utilities. A family of two may qualify if they earn about $24,000 a year or less.

In April, Martinez pulled back about $2.6 million in federal economic stimulus money that former Gov. Bill Richardson had allocated to a number of programs and projects. Martinez used part of the money to cover higher-than-expected fuel costs for state police vehicles, and some will go for food stamps.



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