Supplemental Emergency Allotments (EA) of SNAP benefits, which have been issued since April 2020 to help households during the COVID pandemic, will be eliminated after February due to the passage of new federal legislation.
Starting in March, SNAP recipients will get only one allocation per month – their normal benefit. The elimination of supplemental benefits represents a reduction of nearly $10.7 million per month for Monroe County families and will impact more than 62,000 households (and more than 108,000 residents). The reduction in benefits ranges per household, with most experiencing a loss between $95 and $200 per month.
Through federal action in response to the pandemic, SNAP EAs were enacted in all states to help offset the economic impact of COVID-19 in 2020, helping millions of Americans put food on the table. By the end of 2022, approximately half of all states – including New York – still permitted the issuance of these extra benefits, aligning their continuance with the federal Public Health Emergency. New federal legislation passed at the end of 2022, however, forced every state to end the allocations no later than February.
Representatives from Causewave Community Partners, Foodlink, Monroe County, the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes and Goodwill of the Finger Lakes announced outreach to notify county residents about the changes. New York State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is also notifying all households via mailings and a series of text messages.
“SNAP is our first line of defense against hunger. Many families have been depending on these benefits to put food on the table throughout the pandemic and to cushion the impact of inflation we all have been dealing with,” said Thalia Wright, Monroe County Department of Human Services Commissioner. “Monroe County is working hand-in-hand with our community partners to ensure people are aware of these benefit reductions and guide them to programs and services that are ready to step up and provide help.”
Officials emphasized that all benefits already issued on EBT cards will not disappear, as they are still able to be carried over month to month – for a maximum of 274 days (approximately nine months). State officials also told residents to be wary of scammers. The state will alert SNAP recipients about the changes with a series of text messages (via 877-902-0684), but will never ask anyone for their EBT card number or PIN.
Other resources and tips include:
•SNAP recipients can stretch their dollars further by shopping at the City of Rochester Public Market, where they receive an additional $2 for every $5 spent; or by getting double the value of their SNAP benefits at Abundance Food Co-Op or all Foodlink Curbside Market locations.
•Residents can seek assistance from emergency food providers by visiting https://FoodlinkNY.org or by calling 2-1-1. Hundreds of local food pantries, community meal programs, Pop-up Pantries, Curbside Market sites and more are available. Foodlink is also mobilizing to host additional Pop-up Pantries in Monroe County in March to help households with this transition, and will announce dates and sites later this month.
•If you’ve recently experienced a loss in income or an increase in expenses (housing, childcare fees, child support payments, allowable medical expenses) report verification of those changes through the NYS Mobile Upload DocSubmit app available on Google Play or the Apple Store to have your SNAP benefits reviewed.
•Seek out additional programs to help with household expenses, such as nutrition assistance through the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), or the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Learn more at: https://www.mybenefits.ny.gov.
•SNAP recipients can visit https://www.connectebt.com or call 1-888-328-6399 to check their balance and understand what their normal benefit will be starting in March.
Local residents can visit https://www.SNAP585.com for more information and local resources. Additional information is available through the state’s OTDA FAQ page at https://otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/Frequently-Asked-Questions.asp.
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