SNAP Emergency Allotments to End in February The omnibus spending bill passed by Congress in December requires all states to end SNAP Emergency Allotment (EA) payments this month. Since April 2021, all SNAP participants in New York State received an extra payment each month that equals the difference between their regular monthly SNAP benefit and the maximum SNAP benefit for their household’s size, with a minimum payment of $95. Starting in March, SNAP households will only receive their regular benefit, without the added allotment. The end of EA means that every SNAP household will see a decrease of at least $95 in monthly SNAP benefits. However, many households will see a larger decrease. For example, if a household of four has a regular SNAP benefit of $650, their monthly EA is $289 (the difference between their regular benefit and the maximum SNAP benefit amount). They would have a $289 decrease in monthly benefits. |
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Next Steps Our End of EA webpage includes information, tools, and resources you can use to help SNAP participants understand this change. If households have not reviewed their SNAP budget recently, a benefit checkup could help them maximize their benefit. Certain changes in a household’s income or deductions may result in a higher SNAP benefit, including: - Loss of income
- Increased housing costs
- Increased child care costs
- Increased child support payments
- Medical expenses above $35/month for seniors/disabled households
To report any of these changes, SNAP recipients, can call the local SNAP office or submit a change report online through myBenefits or ACCESS HRA. Community organizations can use this End of EA flyer for SNAP recipients which promotes a benefit checkup. Our SNAP Benefits Estimator tool helps households estimate their monthly SNAP benefit. |
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End of EA Resource Round-up |
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February Emergency Allotments—Final Benefit Issuance The final distribution of SNAP EA began on February 6 and will continue throughout the month. For more information about February emergency allotment payments, go to the SNAP section of our COVID-19 page. |
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ABAWD Rule Suspended Through February 29, 2024 Under normal circumstances, childless adults between the ages of 18 and 49—referred to in SNAP regulations as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)—are subject to a time limit rule. However, NYS OTDA will continue to waive the ABAWD three-month time limit rule in all New York State counties through February 29, 2024. For more information, please visit our ABAWD page. |
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