Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for February. All households participating in SNAP, including those already at the maximum benefit level, will receive an additional allocation later this month, bringing approximately $230 million in federal funds to the state’s economy.
“The pandemic continues to exacerbate food insecurity throughout New York State, which is reflected in the large number of households that continue to rely on the vital program that is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” Governor Hochul said. “These vital food benefits are playing an integral role in helping New Yorkers put food on the table, providing much-needed relief as we continue to take aggressive action in our fight against COVID-19.”
The emergency assistance supplement is provided to households that do not normally receive the maximum benefit allowed per month in SNAP, a federally funded program overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Those households already at or near the maximum benefit level ($835 for a household of four) will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.
SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these benefits posted between now and the end of the day Thursday, February 17. SNAP households in the New York City five-borough region should see their benefits posted between Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 25.
Beginning in April 2020, OTDA began issuing emergency supplemental benefits to SNAP households receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount.
When New York State’s emergency declaration expired in June 2021, the agency successfully worked with the federal government to secure the maximum allocation for all SNAP households through the expiration of the federal declaration, which is currently expected to be extended. to May.
Last year alone, OTDA distributed approximately $2.5 billion in fringe benefits. Nearly 1.6 million households with a total of more than 2.7 million New Yorkers received the supplements in December.
As in previous months, payments will be sent directly to recipients’ existing electronic benefit transfer accounts and can be accessed with their existing EBT cards.
Similar to regular SNAP benefits, supplemental benefits can be used to buy food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will automatically roll over to the next month.
Find more information about emergency SNAP supplemental benefits here.
New Yorkers can check if they qualify for SNAP and apply online at mybenefits.ny.gov.
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