American Samoa beneficiaries of the US Food Stamp Programme are to receive an additional 6 point four percent in coupons from the beginning of the new year.
In addition, the minimum income level for those qualifying for the food stamps has been set at 1008 U.S. dollars a month, up from 733 dollars.
The director of the Department of Human and Social Sciences, Leilua Stevenson, says the food stamp increase will bring an additional two point four million US dollars into the local economy.
The latest increase comes after a rise of 13 point six percent in April which was part of the US's economic recovery programme.
The Department had asked for the additional 6 point four percent, saying it reflected a hike in food costs in American Samoa since 2008.
