All New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for April, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.
All households participating in SNAP, including those already at the maximum benefit level, will receive an additional allocation this month, resulting in the New York State economy receiving approximately $232 million in federal funds.
SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should have seen these additional benefits posted by Friday, April 22. SNAP households in the New York City five-borough region should see their benefits posted by Friday, April 29.
The emergency assistance supplement is provided to all households, including those that normally receive the maximum benefit allowed per month in SNAP, a federally funded program overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Households already near or at the maximum benefit level ($835 for a household of four) will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95.
OTDA began issuing emergency supplemental benefits in April 2020 to those 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 now expected to be extended. until June.
SNAP benefits also play an important role in New York’s economic recovery, which brings more than $696 million into the state’s economy so far this year. Every federal dollar spent by SNAP generates up to $1.54 in economic activity, according to a federal study quantifying the impact of SNAP on the US economy.
As in previous months, payments will be sent directly to recipients’ existing electronic benefit transfer accounts and can be accessed with existing EBT cards. Just like 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.
New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP, with more than 1.6 million households statewide enrolled in the program as of February. More than 2.8 million New Yorkers received benefits in February, the most since June 2021.
Find more information about emergency SNAP supplemental benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions here. New Yorkers can check if they qualify for SNAP and apply online by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov.
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