Funding for Dwight Elementary, EBT Card Fraud, and more

June 26, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

This week I was joined by State Representatives Sarah Keitt and Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Governor Ned Lamont, Fairfield Firstselectperson Christine Vitale, Superintendent Mike Testani, and local town and school leaders to announce our successful efforts to get an enhanced reimbursement rate for the Dwight Elementary School rebuild project. 

This funding, estimated to be $57 million, will allow for this long overdue project to become a reality while expanding our Early Childhood Center and programming for students with disabilities.

This state aid also provides significant property tax relief as we improve our education infrastructure. This wouldn’t have been possible without the many years of advocacy from the Dwight community and all the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and this rebuild will have a generational impact for our students.

You can watch the entire press conference here, or you can watch highlights from the event here.
 

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about upcoming America 250 events in Fairfield, summertime food assistance, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 

FINAL REMINDER: Access Health CT Special Enrollment Ends June 30 

A reminder that Access Health CT announced that eligible customers can enroll in a health insurance plan with Temporary Premium Assistance through a Special Enrollment Period that will end on June 30th. 

The Temporary Premium Assistance has provided over $1.6 million in savings for 10,580 Connecticut residents to date. At the end of 2025, Governor Lamont announced the Temporary Premium Assistance to help customers who lost financial assistance when the federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits expired. The Special Enrollment Period for Temporary Premium Assistance opened on February 1st, and customers can continue to enroll through June 30th. 

Customers who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include: 

  • Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
  • Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.  

To enroll, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with help available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.

For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.  
 

Protect Your EBT Card Benefits 

Connecticut has seen a rise in EBT card PIN theft and benefit fraud. We encourage all EBT cardholders to take precautions to protect their accounts and benefits when using their cards.

The Department of Social Services offers several tools and resources to help recipients safeguard their benefits from fraudulent transactions. Follow the link below to learn more about available security features and steps you can take to protect your account.

Click here to learn more about protecting your EBT card benefits.
 

Additional Summertime Child Nutrition Assistance 

Families across Connecticut are receiving extra help putting food on the table this summer through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services, in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, is providing a one-time $120 food benefit for each eligible child to help offset meal costs while school is out of session. More than 350,000 children are expected to get support from the program.

This investment helps families with children pay for food during the summer months while school is not in session. More than $42 million in S-EBT funding is expected to be provided to Connecticut families this summer. 

Who is eligible?

Children may qualify if their family:

  • Participates in SNAP, Temporary Family Assistance Program (TFA), or Husky A with an income below 185% of the federal poverty level or
  • Was approved for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2025-26 school year.

Most eligible families automatically received their benefits electronically last weekend. They are being loaded onto existing SNAP or EBT cards, including previously issued Summer EBT cards. Families new to the program will receive an EBT card by mail.

Families who are not automatically enrolled can apply for Summer EBT through August 31, 2026.

Click here to learn more.
 

Upcoming Local Events 
Fairfield Farmer's Market
Now through Sunday, Oct. 11, 10am-2pm
Sherman Town Green (1451 Post Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 
Unfinished Revolution: 250 Years of Marking American Independence
On view through Sept. 26
Pequot Library (720 Pequot Ave., Southport)
Read more here
 
Cultural District Celebration
Saturday, June 27, 10am-3pm
Sherman Town Green (1451 Post Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 
America 250 Preview Party
Thursday, July 2, 6-9pm
Fairfield Museum and History Center (370 Beach Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 
Fairfield's Fourth Fest
Saturday, July 4, 12-3pm
Fairfield Museum and History Center (370 Beach Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 
Fairfield Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair
Saturday, July 18, 10am-4pm
Sherman Town Green (1451 Post Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 
For Which It Stands...
On view through Saturday, July 25
Fairfield University, Bellarmine Hall Galleries and Walsh Gallery (1073 N. Benson Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 

I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.


Sincerely,

Jennifer Leeper
State Representative

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