By KRWG News
New Mexico – New Mexico has made changes to increase access to the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
State Human Services Secretary Katie Falls says the new policy means more New Mexico families will be eligible for the monthly nutrition benefit.
She says the federally funded program allows them to purchase nutritious food as well as benefit their local economies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved New Mexico's plan earlier this year. It went into effect this month.
The changes increase financial eligibility based on the federal poverty level.
More than 146,000 New Mexico families participate in the program.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.