Emergency Cash Benefits for Eligible TANF, General Assistance Households Continue until May

NEW CASTLE (Feb. 24, 2023) – The Delaware Division of Social Services will issue emergency benefits for February to eligible households as part of the State’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Due to a recent change in federal law passed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, this will be the final emergency benefits payment as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Emergency benefits paid as part of two cash assistance programs – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA) – will continue until the end of the federal Public Health Emergency in May.

The SNAP emergency food benefit will be available on recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards Tuesday, Feb. 28. Eligible TANF and GA households will receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Beginning March 1, 2023, SNAP households will receive their regular monthly food benefit amount on the normal issuance date and will no longer receive additional emergency food benefits on their EBT cards at the end of each month. More information and resources around this change can be found at de.gov/snapchanges.

“Delaware families needed these emergency food benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic to help put healthy food on the table,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “We know the need for help is still there even as the federal emergency payments are coming to an end. There are community resources that may be available to those in need and we are working with our partners to prepare for this change.”

DHSS encourages Delawareans in need of food assistance to contact Delaware 2-1-1 by calling 2-1-1 or visiting delaware211.org to find the nearest food closet or pantry or visit the Food Bank of Delaware’s website at fbd.org.

Through the end of February, all households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

1. SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size or a prorated initial benefit will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.
2. SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.
3. SNAP households with a calculated emergency benefit amount of $95 or more will continue to receive the calculated emergency benefit amount to increase the household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

The emergency assistance for TANF and GA families increases a household’s monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size. Households that already receive the maximum TANF or GA benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in the month of February are not eligible for the February emergency cash funds. Emergency cash benefits will continue through May 2023 when the federal COVID-19 public health emergency expires.

DHSS has issued emergency benefits each month to eligible households since March 2020.

How the monthly emergency benefit is calculated: A household’s monthly emergency benefit equals the current maximum benefit amount for the household size minus the household’s current monthly benefit amount. For example, based on current USDA limits for SNAP benefits, if a household of one gets $100 in regular monthly benefits, that household will receive $181 in emergency benefits ($281 maximum benefit minus $100 monthly benefit).

Here are the current maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size for SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance:

Emergency SNAP Benefits

An estimated 60,800 Delaware households will receive the emergency SNAP allotment in February, totaling about $12.9 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency Cash Benefits

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

General Assistance (GA)

An estimated 190 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in February, totaling about $ 25,000 in emergency benefits for the month.

In addition to the emergency benefits, households will receive their regular benefits for February on the usual issuance dates.

Households should report to DSS any recent changes in address, household size, employment, income, and expenses (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and child care). Households can report changes by logging in to Delaware ASSIST, calling 1-866-843-7212, or contacting their local DSS office.

For more information about DSS’s benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to the division’s webpage. To screen for and apply for benefits, go to DHSS’ online application portal Delaware ASSIST or call 1-866-843-7212.

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 25, 2023) – The Delaware Division of Social Services (DSS) will issue emergency benefits for January to eligible households as part of the State’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Benefits will be issued as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and two cash assistance programs – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA). The SNAP emergency food benefit will be available on recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards Thursday, Jan. 26. Eligible TANF and GA households will receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Thursday, Jan. 26.

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is also announcing that emergency food benefits for households receiving SNAP will end March 2023 due to a recent change in federal law passed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This means households will receive their final emergency food benefit at the end of February. Beginning March 1, 2023, households will receive their regular monthly benefit amount on the normal issuance date and will no longer receive additional emergency food benefits on their EBT cards at the end of each month.

“We are so thankful that we were able to offer these emergency benefits to the many Delawareans who have experienced economic struggles and health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. “We know this change likely will cause a hardship for many individuals and families, so we want to ensure that those individuals who relied on these additional funds each month are aware of the community resources that may be available to them.” DHSS encourages Delawareans in need of food assistance to contact Delaware 2-1-1 to find the nearest food closet or pantry or visit the Food Bank of Delaware’s website at fbd.org.

DHSS encourages Delawareans in need of food assistance to contact Delaware 2-1-1 to find the nearest food closet or pantry, or visit the Food Bank of Delaware’s website at fbd.org.

Through the end of February, all households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

• SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size or a prorated initial benefit will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency benefit amount of $95 or more will continue to receive the calculated emergency benefit amount to increase the household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

The emergency assistance for TANF and GA families increases a household’s monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size. Households that already receive the maximum TANF or GA benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in the month of January are not eligible for the January emergency cash funds. Emergency cash benefits will continue during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

DHSS has issued emergency benefits each month to eligible households since March 2020.

How the monthly emergency benefit is calculated: A household’s monthly emergency benefit equals the current maximum benefit amount for the household size minus the household’s current monthly benefit amount. For example, based on current USDA limits for SNAP benefits, if a household of one gets $100 in regular monthly benefits, that household will receive $181 in emergency benefits ($281 maximum benefit minus $100 monthly benefit).

Here are the current maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size for SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance:

An estimated 60,500 Delaware households will receive the emergency SNAP allotment in January, totaling about $12.5 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency Cash Benefits

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

General Assistance (GA)

An estimated 170 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in January, totaling about $ 21,150 in emergency benefits for the month.

In addition to the emergency benefits, households will receive their regular benefits for January on the usual issuance dates.

Households should report to DSS any recent changes in address, household size, employment, income, and expenses (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and child care). Households can report changes by logging in to Delaware ASSIST, calling 1-866-843-7212, or contacting their local DSS office.

For more information about DSS’s benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to the division’s webpage. To screen for and apply for benefits, go to DHSS’ online application portal Delaware ASSIST or call 1-866-843-7212.

Eligible SNAP Households Will Receive P-EBT Emergency Food Assistance on June 3

NEW CASTLE (June 1, 2022) – Delaware families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will get emergency food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for children under the age of 6 living in their households. Eligible SNAP households will receive P-EBT for the 2021-2022 school year (September 2021 through June 2022).

The Division of Social Services is issuing the Fall 2021 P-EBT benefit on June 3 for children under the age of 6. A child is eligible for this P-EBT benefit if three conditions were met from September through December 2021:

1. The child was under the age of 6.
2. The child was a member of a household that received SNAP food benefits.
3. The child lived in an area where one or more schools were closed or operated with reduced attendance or hours because of COVID-19.

The Fall 2021 P-EBT benefit covers the months of September, October, November, and December 2021. For each eligible child under age 6, the SNAP household will receive a standard benefit amount of $35 per month for each month from September through December 2021 that the household received SNAP food benefits.

SNAP households will receive P-EBT benefits on their existing SNAP EBT cards and can use their P-EBT benefits just like SNAP food benefits to buy eligible food items at stores and farmer’s markets that accept SNAP EBT. Households will receive the Fall 2021 P-EBT benefit for all children under the age of 6 in their home on June 3. Households will receive P-EBT benefits only for children under the age of 6 for the months that the household received SNAP food benefits during the P-EBT period.

“We are grateful that so many of Delaware’s youngest students were able to return to in-person learning during the 2021-22 school year,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “For those whose families missed in-person classes because schools switched to virtual classes during periods of the Delta and Omicron surges, the Pandemic EBT emergency food benefit is a way to make up for those missed meals in school. We also offer our thanks to Delaware’s congressional delegation for supporting this important federal food benefit for our vulnerable families.”

The Division of Social Services estimates it will issue $5.5 million in P-EBT benefits to families of approximately 15,850 children under the age of 6 in SNAP households during the 2021-2022 school year.

Eligible SNAP households will receive written notification in the mail regarding P-EBT benefits. Households do not need to take any action to receive P-EBT benefits.

The Division of Social Services will issue Spring 2022 P-EBT benefits at a later time.

SNAP households that include school-age children who are eligible for P-EBT will continue to receive P-EBT benefits for those children on the scheduled benefit issuance dates. Check Delaware’s P-EBT website for details.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware’s P-EBT Program. More information about the program can be found at: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/pebt.html

Eligible SNAP Households Will Receive Additional Food Assistance for Those Children

NEW CASTLE (May 3, 2021) – Delaware families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will get additional food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for children younger than 6 who live in SNAP households.

The federal P-EBT program was established in March 2020 to provide food dollars to families to make up for meals missed on days when schools were closed or operated with reduced in-person attendance due to COVID-19. Federal legislation signed in December 2020 expanded P-EBT benefits to eligible SNAP households with children younger than 6, effective retroactively from Oct. 1, 2020.

The first round of benefits covering the 2020-2021 school year will be issued May 6. A child younger than 6 is eligible for P-EBT benefits if two conditions are met:

The child is a member of a household that received SNAP food benefits at any time since Oct. 1, 2020.
The child lives in an area where one or more schools are closed or are operating with reduced attendance or hours because of COVID-19.

For each child younger than 6, the SNAP household will receive $6.82 per day multiplied by the average number of remote school days per month reported for the public schools located in the county where the household lives. The P-EBT benefit amount equals the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast, lunch, and a snack per child per school day. The average number of remote school days per month can change, so P-EBT benefit amounts may change each month.

Benefits will be issued according to the following schedule:

P-EBT Schedule for Children Younger Than Age 6

SNAP households will receive P-EBT benefits on their existing SNAP EBT cards and can use their P-EBT benefits just like SNAP food benefits to buy eligible food items at stores and farmer’s markets that accept SNAP EBT. Households will receive monthly P-EBT benefits for all children in their home who are younger than 6. Households will only receive P-EBT benefits for children younger than 6 for the months that the household received SNAP food benefits during the P-EBT period.

“The P-EBT program has provided a lifeline to financially vulnerable families who struggle to put food on the table,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. “This additional assistance covering SNAP households with children younger than 6 is another step toward achieving an equitable recovery from the pandemic for all Delawareans.”

SNAP households that include school-age children who are eligible for P-EBT will continue to receive P-EBT benefits for those children on a separate date. Check Delaware’s P-EBT website for details.

The state estimates that it will issue $2.1 million in P-EBT benefits per month to approximately 17,770 children younger than 6 in SNAP households.

Eligible SNAP households will receive written notification in the mail regarding P-EBT benefits. Households do not need to take any action to receive P-EBT benefits.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware’s P-EBT Program. More information about the program can be found at:

https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/pebt.html

Eligible Families Will Be Reimbursed for Cost of Meals That Would Have Been Available in Schools

NEW CASTLE (March 29, 2021) – Delaware households with children affected by school closures during the COVID-19 public health emergency will receive additional temporary food-assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Eligible households will receive P-EBT benefits for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school during the current school year.

The state’s Division of Social Services, collaborating with the state’s Department of Education, will issue P-EBT benefits beginning today, March 29. Benefits will be available on recipients’ EBT cards the day after they are issued. The dates that benefits will be issued to individual households depend on when the Division of Social Services receives eligibility and attendance data from each school. Some households may experience a delay in receiving benefits; benefits may become available one to two weeks from the first issuance date. The date range that households may receive monthly benefits is listed in the schedule below.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 extended P-EBT through the 2020-2021 school year. Delaware began issuing P-EBT benefits for the current school year to eligible households last September, to cover August and September 2020. The new benefits will cover October 2020 through June 2021 and will be issued using the following schedule:

Please note: These issuance date ranges may change. Check Delaware’s P-EBT website for up-to-date information.

P-EBT benefits may be used to purchase food at stores that accept SNAP EBT cards. SNAP households will have P-EBT benefits loaded to their existing SNAP EBT cards. Households that do not receive SNAP will have P-EBT benefits loaded to the P-EBT card that was sent to them in the spring or fall of 2020. Newly eligible non-SNAP households will receive a P-EBT card in the mail along with details on how to use the card.

A child is eligible for P-EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year if two conditions are met:

1. The child is certified to receive free or reduced-price meals or attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, and
2. The child does not receive free or reduced-price meals at school because the school is closed or has been operating with reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days in the current school year.

Households will receive $6.82 for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school because the school was closed or the child was participating in remote learning. The P-EBT benefit amount equals the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast, lunch, and a snack of $6.82 per child per eligible school day. Households will receive P-EBT benefits for all eligible children in their home in monthly issuances. Households will not receive P-EBT for the days that their children attended school in-person and received meals at school.

The state estimates that it will issue $91.3 million in P-EBT benefits to approximately 93,000 children for school closures and reductions in attendance and hours from October 2020 through June 2021.

“The pandemic emergency has created significant health and educational challenges for vulnerable families in Delaware, with schools closed or operating with reduced hours,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. “This temporary assistance will help affected families continue to provide a nutritious diet, which is essential to their children’s health.”

Eligible households will receive written notification in the mail regarding P-EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year. Households do not need to take any action to receive P-EBT benefits. P-EBT eligibility is based on information received from Delaware schools.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware’s P-EBT Program.