SALEM — Oregon will funnel an extra $60 million into its food stamp program to help people buy groceries amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Human Services said Thursday that the money will be split between April and May to increase the monthly amount people receive through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregonians are facing unprecedented economic instability and food insecurity,” the agency’s director, Fariborz Pakseresht, said in a statement. “This emergency assistance will help address the food needs our neighbors and communities are suddenly facing.”

The $60 million will cover the costs of giving all recipients the maximum amount of assistance allowed for their household size, said Jennifer Grentz, a DHS spokeswoman.

The maximum varies, from $194 for one person to $646 for four people.

Households already receiving the maximum monthly amount will not receive any additional benefits, the agency said. Recipients eligible for the additional money will receive the new benefits automatically.

The agency did not identify the funding source of the increased benefits.

This article was originally published by The Oregonian/OregonLive, one of more than a dozen news organizations throughout the state sharing their coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak to help inform Oregonians about this evolving heath issue.