Answers to many commonly asked questions about the Supplemental Emergency Allotment (EA) of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits. Show In March 2020, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed in response to effects of the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. The law authorized issuance of emergency allotment supplemental benefits to households receiving SNAP. Based on the law, beginning in March 2020, states were given permission to issue supplemental EA SNAP benefits to households not receiving the maximum benefit for the household’s size. The amount of the supplement was the difference between the benefit the household normally would receive and the maximum for the household’s size. States were given permission to issue the supplements as long as the federal public health emergency caused by the pandemic remains in effect. New York has issued the supplemental benefits every month since March 2020 and will continue issuing monthly EA SNAP benefits as long as the national public health emergency remains in effect. Beginning in April 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed the supplementation policy and authorized the payment of a supplement of at least $95 to all households receiving SNAP benefits. Who qualifies for the supplemental EA SNAP benefits?Beginning April 2021, all households receiving SNAP benefits will receive at least $95 per month in supplemental EA SNAP benefits. This includes households already receiving the maximum SNAP benefit amount for their household size, and households that are eligible for a monthly supplement of less than $95. What is the maximum SNAP benefit amount for my family's size?The USDA re-evaluated the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) in 2022. As a result, beginning October 1, 2022, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amounts (by household size) were increased to: Maximum Monthly SNAP BenefitsSNAP Household SizeMaximum Monthly Benefit Amount1$2812$5163$7404$9395$1,1166$1,3397$1,4808$1,691Each additional person+$211What if my household already got the maximum benefit for my household's size?If you are already eligible for the maximum SNAP benefit amount for your household’s size, or are eligible for a supplemental EA SNAP benefit of less than $95, you will receive a monthly supplemental EA SNAP benefit of $95. How much will I receive in supplemental EA SNAP benefits?While the federal public health emergency remains in effect, SNAP households are eligible to receive EA supplemental SNAP benefits in the amount that will bring them up to the maximum SNAP monthly benefit level for their household size or a supplement of $95—whichever amount is greater. For example, the maximum allowable monthly amount of SNAP benefits for a household of 4 people is $939. If that household receives $400 a month in normal SNAP benefits, they will receive a supplemental EA SNAP benefit of $539. If the same household was already receiving the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount of $939, their supplemental EA SNAP benefit would be $95— bringing their total monthly SNAP benefit to $1,034. Do I need to apply for supplemental EA SNAP benefits?No, you do not need to apply for supplemental EA SNAP benefits. Households automatically receive their supplemental EA SNAP benefits on their EBT card. If you are not currently enrolled in SNAP, the quickest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online at: myBenefits.ny.gov or https://access.nyc.gov/ (if you live in New York City). How will I know when my supplemental EA SNAP benefits are available?You can find information about how to check your available SNAP balance on your EBT card at: https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/ebt/. What can I purchase with my supplemental EA SNAP s benefits?The supplemental EA benefits are SNAP benefits. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. A detailed list of food items that may be purchased with SNAP benefits can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items/. Do I have to use my emergency SNAP supplemental benefits right away?No. Unused SNAP benefits, including supplements, remain available and accessible on your EBT card for at least 274 days from the date they are issued. Since March 2020, states have been using temporary SNAP (food stamp) flexibility to provide emergency benefit supplements, maintain benefits to households with children missing school meals, and ease program administration during the pandemic. These options have allowed states to deliver more food assistance to struggling families, help manage intense administrative demands, and ensure that participants maintain much-needed benefits. How to Find Out if You Can Get Help From SNAPIf you would like help from SNAP, contact your local human services office. The staff there will work with you to find out if you qualify. You may also find information and referrals by dialing 211 in most states.
Notes: SNAP is often referred to by its former name, the Food Stamp Program. Your state may use a different name. SNAP has special rules following natural disasters. The far-reaching health and economic effects of COVID-19 and widespread business closures to limit its spread made it even more difficult for many low-income households to afford food and other needs. Data have shown a substantial number of families have reported difficulties affording adequate food and other basic needs at some point during the pandemic. SNAP is essential to helping these families put food on the table. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of March 2020 gave the Agriculture Department (USDA) authority to let states temporarily modify procedures to make it easier for families to continue participating in or apply for SNAP. Many of those temporary changes were extended by subsequent legislation and administrative action. Also, Families First temporarily suspended, nationwide, SNAP’s three-month time limit on benefits for unemployed adults under age 50 without children in their home. In addition to provisions in the law, USDA encouraged states to use existing program flexibility to improve access to SNAP, such as by using online or telephone SNAP applications if they weren’t already, or allowing participants to stay on SNAP without reapplying for the maximum amount of time allowed under program rules. Families First also included a temporary boost of emergency supplementary benefits and school meal replacement benefits, which were also extended and strengthened by subsequent legislation and administrative action from the Biden Administration. Benefit EnhancementsFamilies First included two ways for states to raise benefits for many SNAP participants and other households experiencing falling income and rising food needs:
While not through Families First, USDA also expanded access to a key flexibility for households to use their SNAP benefits. The 2014 farm bill created a pilot program for states to test the feasibility and outcomes resulting from allowing retailers to accept SNAP benefits for online food purchases. In 2019, New York became the first state to launch a pilot, joined by Washington State in January 2020 and three other states in March 2020 (Alabama, Iowa, and Oregon). All 50 states and the District of Columbia now have such a program. USDA lists the retailers that accept SNAP online. SNAP Operations WaiversFamilies First and subsequent legislation allowed states to temporarily adjust their operations to help manage their workloads and help participants gain and maintain access to the program. Nationally, the number of SNAP participants grew from about 37 million in February 2020 to about 43 million in June 2020. The number of participants has fallen since, but in March 2022, the most recent data available, more than 41 million people participated — 12 percent more than the number of participants in February 2020. State SNAP agencies have had to manage this greater volume through office closures staffing shortages, and other challenges due a remote work environment during the pandemic. These temporary adjustments have been critical to help state SNAP agencies process applications and help keep participants connected to the program, as many state agencies reported in a 2021 survey. Some states began transitioning off these flexibilities in the second half of 2020, as USDA began approving fewer extensions, but the October 2020 government funding law restored many of these options. USDA has allowed states to extend these flexibilities through the month following the end of the national public health emergency, though states must confirm that their state public health emergency declaration remains in effect every three months. This guidance also encourages states to use these flexibilities as needed to aid in the transition to regular operations, such as by applying the flexibility only to a portion of the caseload or reducing the number of households affected by the flexibility each month.
Other Administrative Options and WaiversIn addition to extending approvals for states to use flexibility under existing SNAP regulations, USDA has approved and extended other waivers under Families First that temporarily suspended administrative requirements for states, not shown in the tables below. USDA has continued to let states request these options through the month after the month in which the federal public health emergency ends.[6] USDA also had introduced some limited options in the fall of 2020 meant to transition states to regular operations, but because the October 2020 government funding law restored many flexibilities that had been previously offered, states stopped using those narrower options.[7] In addition, USDA has approved waivers to modify aspects of states’ quality control processes. States must independently check the accuracy of household eligibility and benefit levels for a share of their cases each month. The process typically involves an in-person interview with households, often at their home. All states opted to use Families First’s flexibility to conduct quality control interviews by phone instead of in person, which USDA made available through June 2022. USDA approved state extensions of the waiver through June 2020 for 49 states, approved extensions of the waiver for all states through December 2020, and notified states in April 2021 that they could request this waiver through December 2021. Also, in March 2020 USDA gave all states and territories participating in SNAP an extension of the deadlines for reporting findings from households that were reviewed in December 2019 through February 2020. USDA subsequently allowed all states and territories participating in SNAP to suspend these reviews for March, April, and May 2020. Later legislation suspended many requirements related to these reviews for June 2020 through June 2021, when they resumed.[8] Figure 1Share Chart on Facebook Share Chart on Twitter Chart
TABLE 1Pandemic EBT, as of August 16, 2022StateProvided benefits for households with children missing school meals in 2019-2020 school year1 (P-EBT)Provided P-EBT, August-Sept. 20201Provided P-EBT to school-aged children, 2020-2021 school year1Provided P-EBT to children under age 6, 2020-2021 school year2Provided P-EBT, summer 2021Provided P-EBT to school-aged children, 2021-2022 school yearProvided P-EBT to children under age 6, 2021-2022 school yearProvided P-EBT, summer 2022AlabamaX XXX XXAlaskaX XXX ArizonaX XXX XXArkansasX XXXXXXCaliforniaXXXXXXXXColoradoX XXXXXXCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands3 XXX ConnecticutX XXXXXXDelawareXXXXXXXXDistrict of ColumbiaXXXXX XXFloridaX XXXX GeorgiaX XXX X Guam X X Hawai’iXXXXX XXIdahoX X X* IllinoisXXXXX XXIndianaXXXXXXXXIowaX XXX KansasX XXX XXKentuckyXXXXXX XLouisianaX XXXXXXMaineX XXXX MarylandXXXXXX XMassachusettsXXXXXXXXMichiganX XXXXXXMinnesotaX XXXXXXMississippiX X X* XXMissouriX XXXX MontanaXXXXX XXNebraskaXXXXXX NevadaX XXXXXXNew HampshireX XXX New JerseyXXXXX XXNew MexicoXXXXXXXXNew YorkX XXX X North CarolinaXXXXXXXXNorth DakotaX X XXOhioXXXXXXXXOklahomaX XXXXXXOregonXXXXX X PennsylvaniaX XXXX Puerto Rico3 XXXXXXRhode IslandXXXXXX XSouth CarolinaX XXX XXSouth DakotaX XXX TennesseeXXXXXX TexasX XXXXXXUtahX XXXXXXVermontX XXXXXXVirgin IslandsXXXXX VirginiaXXXXXX XWashingtonX XXX XXWest VirginiaX XXXXXXWisconsinX XXXXXXWyomingX XXXX Total5220555154333637 Note: Please see the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) website for the most current P-EBT approvals with any updates after the "as of" date listed: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-guidance-coronavirus-pandemic-ebt-pebt. 1 The Families First law, which originally authorized P-EBT, authorized the program through September 2020 (fiscal year 2020). USDA originally approved states to provide benefits in the 2019-2020 school year for days when schools were closed, and approved extensions for states to provide benefits in August and September of the 2020-2021 school year under that law. The October 2020 government funding law extended this option through September 2021 and expanded the program by including schools using a mix of in-person and virtual learning and certain children under age 6 receiving SNAP benefits. The December 2020 COVID-19 relief package and further action from the Biden Administration allowed for further simplifications, particularly for children under age 6. States that were not originally approved to issue benefits for August and September 2020 under Families First may issue benefits for those months once approved for the 2020-2021 school year. All states that were approved after October 2020 for the 2020-2021 school year were approved to provide benefits dating back to the start of the school year for school-aged children. The American Rescue Plan allows states to provide P-EBT benefits during the summer of 2021 and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 2 States that were approved to issue benefits for children under age 6 for the 2020-2021 school year were approved to begin doing so in October 2020. 3 Puerto Rico, which operates a SNAP-like block grant in lieu of SNAP but participates in the child nutrition programs that the states participate in, was excluded from P-EBT under Families First. The October 2020 government funding law extended the option to Puerto Rico to participate in P-EBT in the 2020-2021 school year. American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which operate block grants in lieu of SNAP and receive separate grants for child nutrition programs, were also originally excluded but are eligible to implement P-EBT under the October 2020 law. The American Rescue Plan Act also clarified that the provisions extending the program to certain children under age 6 apply to those territories (Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) as well as to states and territories participating in SNAP. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in SNAP and have been eligible for all rounds of P-EBT. * States with an asterisk are states that only provided summer P-EBT benefits to school-age children (and not children under age 6) in 2021. TABLE 2USDA-Approved SNAP Operations Waivers, as of July 18, 2022Listed by last month option or waiver is in effectStateExtend certification periods and adjust periodic reportsWaive initial/ recertification interviewsNot offer face-to-face interviewsWaive expedited interviewsAdapt telephonic signature requirementsUse periodic report procedures to recertify householdsAlabama Sep. 2022Sep. 2022Sep. 2022 AlaskaJul. 2022Jul. 2022Jun. 2020Jun.2020Aug. 2020 ArizonaJun. 2021Jun. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2022 ArkansasMay 2020Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Oct. 2020 CaliforniaMay 2020Sep. 2022Dec. 2021Jun. 2020Sep. 2022 ColoradoJun. 2021Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Jul. 2020 ConnecticutSep. 2022Sep. 2022Jun. 2021Sep. 2022Sep. 2022 DelawareAug. 2020Sep. 2022Jun. 2020Sep. 2022Sep. 2022 District of ColumbiaAug. 2022Oct. 2022Oct. 2020Jun. 2020Jul. 2020Oct. 2022FloridaAug. 2020Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2021 GeorgiaJun. 2022Jun. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 GuamJun. 2020Jun. 2020 Hawai’iDec. 2021Jun. 2022Jun. 2022Jun. 2022Jun. 2022Dec. 2021IdahoMay 2020 IllinoisSep. 2022Sep. 2022Dec. 2020Jun. 2020Sep. 2022 IndianaJun. 2022Aug. 2020Jun. 2022Aug. 2020 IowaAug. 2020Jun. 2020 May 2020 KansasJun. 2020Dec. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 KentuckyJun. 2021Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2021 LouisianaMay 2021Apr. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 Dec. 2020MaineJun. 2020Sep. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Aug. 2020 MarylandJun. 2022Mar. 2022Jun. 2021Sep. 2022 Dec. 2021MassachusettsNov. 2022Nov. 2022Jun. 2020Nov. 2022May 2021Nov. 2022MichiganJun. 2020Aug. 2020Sep. 2022Jun. 2020Sep. 2022 MinnesotaDec. 2021Mar. 2022 Sep. 2022Dec. 2020MississippiJun. 2020Aug. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 MissouriAug. 2020Jul. 2021Jun. 2021Jun. 2020 MontanaJun. 2020Jun. 2020Jul. 2020Jun. 2020 Dec. 2020NebraskaMay 2020May 2020 NevadaJun. 2020Jun. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 New HampshireJun. 2020 Sep. 2022 New JerseyDec. 2021Sep. 2022Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Sep. 2022 New MexicoJul. 2022Dec. 2021Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Nov. 2020Sep. 2022New YorkMar. 2022Jun. 2022Aug. 2020Jun. 2021Sep. 2022 North CarolinaSep. 2022Sep. 2022Jun. 2021Jun. 2020Sep. 2022 North Dakota Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 OhioJun. 2022Jun. 2022Jun. 2022Jun. 2020 Dec. 2020OklahomaOct. 2022Nov. 2022.Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 OregonJun. 2022Jun. 2022Jul. 2020Aug. 2020Jun. 2022Jun. 2022PennsylvaniaMar. 2022Jan. 2022Jun. 2021Jun. 2020 Dec. 2020Rhode IslandSep. 2022Sep. 2022Sep. 2022Sep. 2022Jun. 2020Sep. 2022South CarolinaMay 2021Sep. 2022Jun. 2021Jun. 2020 South DakotaJun. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 Tennessee Aug. 2020Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 TexasAug. 2022Aug. 2022Jul. 2020Jun. 2020 Utah VermontNov. 2020May 2020 Virgin IslandsDec. 2021Jul. 2022Jun. 2021Jul. 2022 VirginiaJun. 2020Sep. 2022Jan. 2021Jun. 2020Jun. 2020 WashingtonJun. 2022 Jun. 2022 Mar. 2022 West VirginiaSep. 2022Sep. 2022Dec. 2021Sep. 2022 Dec. 2020WisconsinDec. 2021Sep. 2021 Sep. 2022 Wyoming Total484843422513 Notes: This table includes waivers under the Families First law, which require USDA approval, and were originally largely approved from March through August 2020, until USDA gave state agencies the option in May 2021 to request waivers through December 2021 or the end of their state (or the national) public health emergency. For more on states’ use of waivers, see https://www.fns.usda.gov/programs/fns-disaster-assistance/fns-responds-covid-19/snap-covid-19-waivers. For extensions approved under the May 2021 guidance, see https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/extension-covid-19-administrative-flexibilities-may-2021-and-beyond. This table also includes options from the October 2020 government funding law that did not require USDA approval and that states implemented through June 2021 (or through December 2021 for the option to use periodic report procedures to recertify households). For more on states’ use of these options, see https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/cr-state-options. States can choose how to implement these waivers, and some states extend these flexibilities for just a portion of their caseload or in otherwise limited fashion; this table only shows states’ usage of these waivers as reported by USDA. This table also shows the last month the state has opted to extend the flexibility; states may have had months without this flexibility. Please see the FNS website for a spreadsheet of Active COVID Waivers by State for any updates after the "as of" date listed: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/extension-covid-19-administrative-flexibilities-january-2022-and-beyond. Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and state agencies Updated September 23, 2022 Topics: Food Assistance End Notes[1] In July, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the federal public health emergency (PHE) through mid-October. Recognizing the significant changes that will need to happen at the end of the PHE and the need for adequate time to prepare, HHS has promised states that it will provide 60 days’ notice before ending the PHE. [2] A state in which the governor or a state agency (such as the health department) has declared a public health emergency is eligible to issue emergency allotments. States may issue allotments for one additional month following the last month the emergency declaration is in effect. As of August 2022, 16 states (Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming) had stopped issuing allotments. Other states may also cease issuing these allotments in coming months. [3] Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, which receive nutrition block grants instead of SNAP, were not originally included in P-EBT and could not issue those benefits for the 2019-2020 school year; the October 2020 government funding bill extended eligibility to them. Guam and United States Virgin Islands do participate in SNAP and have had the same eligibility as states. [4] P-EBT benefits can be issued to eligible school-aged children to cover a period "in any school year in which there is a public health emergency designation" or "in a covered summer period following a school session," which means that P-EBT benefits for school-aged children could extend for some period beyond the end of the public health emergency. However, P-EBT benefits for eligible children under age 6 can only be issued for periods "during a public health emergency." See Section 1101(a) and (h) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116-127). [5] All states except North Dakota have been approved to provide summer 2021 P-EBT benefits, but Mississippi and Idaho were only approved to provide those benefits to school-aged children. [6] For a brief summary of many of these waivers, all of which can be found at the Food and Nutrition Service, see “SNAP: COVID-19 Waivers by State,” https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19/snap-waivers-flexibilities. USDA has allowed state agencies to extend these through month after the month in which the federal public health emergency ends as well. USDA originally allowed 25 state agencies to temporarily stop pursuing certain claims and not consider related payments delinquent. (When SNAP households receive more benefits than they are eligible for — for example, because the SNAP eligibility worker made a mistake, or the household misunderstood the rules or provided incorrect information by mistake or intentionally — SNAP state agencies must collect the amount overpaid, unless pursuing the claim is not cost effective.) All of these states had these waivers extended through June 2020, and some 13 states received July 2020 extensions, with smaller numbers approved for extensions past July 2020, including at least four states extending through December 2021. USDA also approved one state (California) for an extension on submitting data to USDA on claims collection. In November 2021, USDA provided options for states facing challenges in administering claims due to the pandemic; several states have been approved to adjust their overpayment policies. At least 23 states were approved for waivers to extend the timeframe to complete fair hearings, which states are required to provide for SNAP participants to appeal a state decision that affects their participation, such as denying or terminating benefits; these hearings are an important tool for clients to exercise their rights. All of these states had these waivers extended through June 2020 and fewer states were extended through subsequent months, including at least eight states with extensions through December 2021. These waivers have now expired. At least four states have received waivers to extend the timeline for administrative disqualification hearings, which states must provide to determine that an individual has committed an intentional violation of program rules (such as making a false statement). Fewer states were approved past June 2020. USDA approved several state waivers to temporarily suspend use of the Income and Eligibility Verification System, a database in which states ordinarily must verify certain income and other information in spring 2020. Three states received approval to extend the period of time granted to households that have attempted to but are unable to provide a Social Security number, and USDA approved some states to continue to extend these waivers through December 2021. As of August 2022, four states are still operating under this waiver. At least two states received approval in spring 2020 to delay notices that states must issue to households with multiple EBT card replacement requests. Three states received waivers to allow certain community partners that assist SNAP applicants with the application process to sign the application on the client’s behalf after obtaining consent to serve as the client’s authorized representative. USDA has continued to approve extensions of these waivers for some states. At least four states were approved to suspend in-person collection of applications and verification documents. Some of those states had extensions up through December 2021. At least two states were approved to streamline the process to determine whether individuals are unable to meet certain work requirements. (Though Families First suspended the time limit nationwide, states that receive funding to offer a slot in a work or training program to individuals subject to the time limit can still apply the time limit to those individuals unless they have “good cause” for not meeting the requirements. Similarly, states can determine whether an individual has good cause not to comply with more general SNAP work requirements for which they could otherwise be sanctioned. One of the waivers streamlines the process to determine whether individuals subject to the time limit who are offered slots in training programs have good cause. The other streamlines this good-cause determination for individuals subject to SNAP’s general work requirements.) [7] Beginning in August 2020, USDA limited approvals of many waivers that modified SNAP procedures and began approving states for narrow versions of these waivers, though these waivers were replaced by the more flexible options included in the October 2020 government funding law. USDA approved waivers for states, called either “core verification and interview adjustment” or “periodic report flexibility for non-extended recertification cases” waivers, that give states more flexibility to streamline the renewal process for households that are due to renew in coming months, such as limiting the number of households required to complete an interview at recertification. These waivers are not shown in the tables. [8] The October 2020 government funding law suspended these reviews from June 2020 through September 30, 2021; the December 2020 COVID-19 relief package moved up the end of this flexibility to June 30, 2021. Is Texas extending SNAP benefits 2022?AUSTIN, Texas - Emergency SNAP food benefits have been extended for November 2022. Governor Greg Abbott announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing more than $334.5 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of November.
Will emergency SNAP benefits continue in 2022 in Virginia?RICHMOND, VA (November 4, 2022) – Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in November.
Will I get extra food stamps in Indiana in 2022?The COLA increase will give everyone a little extra.
Everyone will be getting extra food stamps in October 2022 thanks to the annual cost of living adjustment! The 2008 Food and Nutrition Act dictates that COLA changes take effect on October 1 each year.
How long will extra SNAP benefits last in PA?The Biden administration has extended the federal emergency declaration for another 90 days due to the pandemic.
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