Back-to-School Cash Benefit for Kids

August 18, 2023

I wanted to share with you that the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) will deliver a one-time, back-to-school cash benefit to 7,500 children across the state using federal Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds (PEAF). This benefit will go to children aged 5 to 17 who were enrolled in the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program in May 2023.

Connecticut previously distributed approximately $7 million in PEAF assistance in August 2022; the funding for this round of benefits came from a supplemental federal PEAF distribution.

DSS Cash Benefit 1DSS Cash Benefit 2

DSS Cash Benefit 3

DSS Cash Benefit 4

On Saturday, August 19th DSS will be administering funds. Below is specific information on the distribution:

  • DSS is issuing the additional benefit to the households of 7,500 kids, between the ages of 5 and 17, who received a TFA benefit in May 2023.
    • Includes 4-year-olds who turned 5 by May 31
    • Includes 17-year-olds who turned 18 by May 2
  • The one-time cash benefit is $55 per eligible child.
  • Families do not need to apply for the additional funds, all eligible households will automatically receive this benefit on their existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.

DSS is correlating the distribution of the benefit with the start of Connecticut’s Tax-Free Week, which runs from Sunday, August 20th – Saturday, August 26th, to help families maximize back-to-school purchases or other essential needs.