End-of-Year benefits plus regular pay for ASNAP participants

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  (From the DHSS Director’s Office, Thursday, August 28, 2025)  Director Panisia Neueli is delighted to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS), approved our request to issue a one-time payment of end-of-year (EOY) benefits totaling $95 for all participants of the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP), which will be in addition to their regular monthly benefits. The EOY benefits will be paid using unspent ASNAP funds from the current fiscal year budget and will expire on September 30, 2025.

The end-of-year benefits will be distributed along with the regular monthly benefits for September by the ASNAP office starting Tuesday, September 2nd, through Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by alphabetical order for ease of distribution. Please see the enclosed schedule for details.

Director Neueli extends her heartfelt appreciation to USDA FNS Western Regional Administrator Muzafar Makhdoomi, SNAP Director Charles Tobin, Grants Management and Administrative Services Acting Director Terry Gunnell, and their staff for their continued support of the ASNAP and for helping to maintain the resources needed to address the ongoing need for food assistance for our vulnerable population. Moreover, Director Neueli also thanks Honorable Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula and Honorable Lieutenant Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae, Jr. for their steadfast leadership and support of DHSS and its Programs. Also, Director Neueli urges all participants who will be receiving EOY benefits to prioritize the purchase of healthy food items for better health outcomes.

The schedule of mass issuance of September benefits will be announced on KVZK TV and local radio stations this week, in addition to being posted on the ASNAP’s Facebook page. Please feel free to contact the ASNAP office at 633-7720 for more information. Thank you.