Overview

UPDATED Additional SNAP benefits provided for nearly 104,800 households in Connecticut on Thursday, September 17

The Department of Social Services provided $15.9 million in Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits to many Connecticut SNAP households on Thursday, September 17, 2020 – adding to the $102.3 million in emergency benefits disbursed in April, May, June, July, and August.

Authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, the extra food benefits went to nearly 104,800 households not currently receiving the maximum benefits allowed for their household size. This means that all households enrolled in SNAP will receive the maximum food benefit allowable for their household size, even if they are not usually eligible for the maximum benefit.

Specifically:

The Department of Social Services report that nearly 104,800 of 222,120 SNAP-participating households statewide received the emergency benefits in September.

With this additional $15.9 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, emergency benefits are totaling over $118.3 million in additional SNAP assistance statewide during April, May, June, July, August, and September with commensurate spending in the food economy.

The average emergency benefit amount a household saw on its electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card on September 17 is $152.50.

All participating households also received their normal SNAP benefits on the first three days of each month they normally do, according to last name.

If a household is granted regular SNAP benefits after September 17 and is also eligible for the emergency supplemental benefits, the latter benefits will be added to the EBT card on a Friday, depending on the date of granting.

Emergency benefits allowed the household’s SNAP benefit to increase to the maximum allotment for a household of that size as follows:

Household size Maximum Benefit Amount 1 $194 2 $355 3 $509 4 $646 5 $768 6 $921 7 $1,018 8 $1,164

Each additional person: add $146

For example, if a household of two normally received $255 of SNAP benefits in July, $100 would bring this household up to the maximum benefit for its size. This household received a $100 emergency benefit on September 17. [Updated 9/17/20]

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Connecticut Providing Food Replacement Benefits for All SNAP Recipients Statewide on Thursday, September 3

Over 210,600 Connecticut households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will automatically receive federal storm-related food replacement benefits, Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford announced today.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved $9.9 million in food assistance for Connecticut SNAP recipients statewide, based on an analysis of Tropical Storm Isaias power outages and federal guidelines for replacement benefits.

Commissioner Gifford thanked FNS officials for their response to Connecticut’s appeal for replacement food benefits, noting that the infusion of federal aid will help families and individuals who struggled in the storm’s aftermath and from the continuing economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This equates to replacement benefits ranging from $10 to over $230, depending on income and household size,” she said. “The average replacement benefit is estimated at $61.”

All 210,600 SNAP-enrolled households (nearly 387,000 people) will automatically receive 20 percent of their August benefit amount in electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts by DSS on September 3.

Individual requests for SNAP replacement benefits are also being handled by DSS, with information available at www.ct.gov/snap and www.endhungerct.org. If individual replacement benefits are requested, DSS will determine the amount of replacement benefits and exclude the recipient from the statewide automatic distribution. Request for individual replacement benefits are due to the agency by September 3, 2020; please see below for more information.

SNAP benefits can be used only for federally approved food items at supermarkets, grocery stores, approved online retailers and farmers’ markets. [updated 9-2-20]

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UPDATED June 17, 2020--Online purchasing of food with SNAP benefits. The Department of Social Services is working with participating food retailers—Amazon, Walmart and ShopRite--to offer online purchasing of food with SNAP benefits in Connecticut.

After federal approval and successful system testing by the state’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor, online food purchasing was fully implemented on Wednesday, June 3. SNAP enrollees are be able to use SNAP benefits available on their EBT debit-type card to purchase eligible food items online for delivery or curbside pickup at participating food retailers.

Retailers approved for the initial launch of online SNAP purchasing are Amazon, including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh; 12 Walmart stores (please click here for list); and Wakefern Food Corp., with 21 participating ShopRite stores (please click here for list).

SNAP enrollees will be able to place food orders online by using the identifying numbers on their EBT cards and individually selected PINs.

Please note that only SNAP benefits on EBT cards can be used for online purchases. At this time, cash assistance benefits on EBT cards cannot be used for any part of online shopping, including shipping, delivery or service fees.

Federal rules do not allow any SNAP benefits to be used for shipping, delivery or service fees, but some food retailers may choose to waive fees (as Amazon does for orders over $35). Online shopping customers using SNAP benefits will be able to use other debit or credit cards to pay for any fees and/or any non-SNAP-eligible items they wish to purchase.

SNAP benefits are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which also regulates which foods are eligible for purchase with the benefits. FNS is the authorizing agency for food retailers participating in the program. For information about enrolling in SNAP EBT and online food sales through SNAP, food retailers can visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing.

To read the federal approval announcement, click here. For more information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Connecticut, visit www.ct.gov/snap.

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UPDATED July 2, 2020—Children enrolled in school meals program receiving additional, emergency SNAP benefits through the ‘Pandemic EBT’ program

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) advises that because of the cancellation of in-person, pre-K to grade 12 classes at all schools in the state for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year, the families of approximately 285,776 public school students and 1,748 private school students who participate in the free or reduced-price meals program are receiving additional, emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under the federal Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals while learning from home during the pandemic.

Initially, when schools were slated to reopen on May 20, the state received federal approval to provide $71.3 million in EBT benefits. That amount, however, increased to $104.8 million when the decision was made to cancel in-person classes for the remainder of the academic year. The emergency SNAP funding for children who participate in the free or reduced-price meals program was authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Altogether, DSS estimates that it will issue approximately $34.5 million in additional food benefits to nearly 55,200 SNAP-eligible households and $70.3 million in food benefits to about 138,000 households not currently enrolled in SNAP. DSS is partnering with the Connecticut State Department of Education on the plan, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

Specifically:

Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits were deposited in the EBT accounts of nearly 55,200 households currently enrolled in SNAP on Sunday, May 24. An additional 800 households enrolled in the Temporary Family Assistance Program (TFA), but not currently enrolled in SNAP, also received Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits in their EBT accounts at that time.

Pandemic EBT SNAP debit cards were mailed on Friday, June 5 , to over 73,000 households currently enrolled in Medicaid (Husky A) with DSS. Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits were deposited in these EBT accounts on Sunday, June 7.

Pandemic EBT SNAP debit cards started being mailed beginning on Friday, June 19, to over 82,000 children not currently enrolled in SNAP, TFA, or Medicaid, but who are receiving Free or Reduced Priced Meals at school, and DSS deposited Pandemic EBT SNAP benefits into their new EBT accounts on Sunday, June 21. This part of the Pandemic EBT program involves the Community Eligibility Program, or CEP. Authorized by the federal government as a part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, CEP allows schools or school districts that predominantly serve low-income children to offer free, nutritious school meals to all students enrolled in that school or school district through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). CEP fact sheet: https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/cn/CEPfactsheet.pdf

CEP participating schools: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Nutrition/CEP/CEPschoolslist.pdf



Please follow this link for an informational pamphlet mailed to households with their EBT cards

Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards. This includes famers’ markets and direct market farms. Pandemic EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup when it is implemented in the overall SNAP program, now scheduled for early June.

Families do not need to apply for Pandemic EBT benefits, as children are automatically eligible because in-person classes are not in session. The planned one-time benefit is $364.80 per child enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program.

Follow this link for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

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Food Resources for Kids During COVID-19 Emergency: Special information from the Office of Early Childhood (En Espanol)

Suspension of ‘ABAWD’ work requirements. ABAWD work requirements and three-month SNAP time limit for enrollees in all towns in Connecticut has been suspended for the duration of the public health emergency, per Congressional action (ABAWD=Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependent Children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program).

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Extension of SNAP eligibility. If your SNAP renewal form or periodic review form (PRF) was due in March 2020—benefits are automatically continued through September 2020. If your SNAP renewal form or PRF is due in April 2020—benefits will be automatically continued through October 2020. If your SNAP renewal form or PRF is due in May 2020—benefits will be automatically continued through November 2020. If your SNAP renewal for or PRF is due in June 2020—benefits will automatically be continued through December 2020.

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For Expedited SNAP cases: DSS will still issues SNAP benefits for one or two months, depending on whether the application was received before or after the 15th of the month, while the interview and verifications are pending. Just as above, If the household then responds with the needed information before completing the interview, and all the criteria above are met, the DSS worker will process the case without the interview. Please note: Expedited SNAP cases are those where the household has gross income less than $150 and liquid assets less than $100 in the month of application, whose combined income and assets are less than their combined rent/mortgage and utility expenses, or who are migrant or seasonal farmworkers who are destitute and have liquid assets less than $100 while residing in Connecticut.

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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, helps eligible individuals and families afford the cost of food at supermarkets, grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

SNAP Time Limits for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs): What you should know

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SNAP recipients in Connecticut must report when their household’s total monthly gross income goes above 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Please follow this link to learn more about income reporting requirements.

Mensaje Importante sobre SNAP

Beneficiarios de SNAP en Connecticut tienen que reportar cuando el total del ingreso bruto mensual de su hogar exceda el 130% del nivel federal de pobreza (FPL) Oprime aquí para obtener más información.

Please follow this link to view the CT SNAP Policy Handbook.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

For full information about getting delicious, healthy foods at Connecticut farmers’ markets and farms, please follow this link.

If you're enrolled in SNAP, you can now take care of your 'periodic report form' online! Check out www.ct.gov/dss/snapreportform

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For your safety, ALL Aquarium visits now require a timed ticket and must be reserved online. Follow this link to Learn More.