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June 9, 2021

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Connecticut’s SNAP-eligible households to receive additional emergency food benefits June 16

The Connecticut Department of Social Services today announced that it will deliver $33.8 million in Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to over 218,100 Connecticut households on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Monthly allocations of emergency SNAP benefits are now going to all enrolled households, resulting from an executive order by President Joe Biden.

Authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, this federal allocation will provide a minimum of $95 in extra food aid to all enrolled families and individuals, raising the state’s total emergency SNAP funding to over $340.3 million since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Specifically:

  • All 218,100 SNAP-eligible households statewide will receive the emergency benefits on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards on June 16.
  • All households already eligible for the maximum monthly SNAP benefit will receive an extra $95.
  • The remaining households that don’t usually qualify for the maximum monthly SNAP benefit because of income or other factors will receive extra benefits of at least $95 but averaging an estimated $149 (depending on their specific benefit situation).
  • With this additional $33.8 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, emergency benefits are totaling over $340.3 million in additional SNAP assistance statewide over 15 months, with commensurate spending at supermarkets, groceries, farmers’ markets, and other food retailers.
  • The $95 increase results from President Biden’s January 22, 2021, executive order, which requires the USDA to consider new guidance allowing states to increase SNAP emergency benefit allocations for all households, including those previously ineligible to receive it. This increase is expected to be ongoing.
  • All households also received their normal SNAP benefits, including the previously announced 15% increase from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, on one of the first three days of the month as they normally do, according to last name.
  • If a household is granted regular SNAP benefits on or after Monday June 14, the additional SNAP benefits will be added to the EBT card on a Friday, depending on the date of granting.

For additional information about SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/SNAP.

Providing information to Connecticut residents

The CTAlert notification system – the state’s emergency alert system – provides text message notifications to users. Sign up by texting COVIDCT to 888-777. And for the most up-to-date information from the state on COVID-19 – including frequently asked questions, guidance and resources – visit ct.gov/coronavirus.