Governor Ned Lamont announced in a press release on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, that his administration is set to enhance SNAP benefits by raising the income limits for Connecticut's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This significant change, effective in October 2022, will enable an additional 8,959 individuals across 4,980 households to receive essential food assistance through the program.
People in Connecticut who qualify can get help paying for food through SNAP.
The program administrator, the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), estimates these individuals will receive $19,868,553 in SNAP benefits over the next year, or $185 per month on average.
What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously called the Food Stamp Program, is abbreviated as SNAP. It is a government program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals, including low-income working families, seniors, people with disabilities, and those with poor incomes, on a sliding income scale.
Before this change, the monthly SNAP benefit per household member was $129. On average, SNAP benefits are distributed more frequently to households substantially below the poverty line than those closer to the bar.
SNAP aims to provide low-income families and individuals with financial assistance for nutritional requirements so that they may have the means to pay for other necessities, such as rent, utilities, transportation, and medical expenses.
How to Get Free Groceries With SNAP?
Residents in Connecticut can purchase SNAP-eligible foods, including fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy, and eggs, from participating stores.
People who sign up for SNAP are given electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. These cards work like bank cards and are refilled every month that the person is eligible. Many grocery shops, convenience stores, farmers markets, and online stores that accept the cards will let you save money on food that the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved. People on SNAP should change their EBT PINs monthly so that scams or skimming operations do not steal their benefits.
ALDI and Price Chopper are working with Instacart. Participants include Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh, Walmart, and Wakefern Food Corp., which runs 22 ShopRite stores nationwide.
Residents can only utilize SNAP benefits to buy qualifying food. Gift cards or credit cards are needed to pay fees.
It's essential to look for a sign indicating that the store accepts EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards, or you can ask the store directly. The USDA's website also offers a SNAP Retailer Locator tool, where residents can input their location to find nearby stores that accept SNAP benefits.
Exploring Eligibility for SNAP Benefits
All Connecticut households must meet a monthly net income limit to be eligible. Net income is the total amount of money household members keep after taxes and expenses. Most families must also meet a monthly gross income limit.'
The net income cap is the same as the federal poverty level right now, which is $1,215 a month for one person and goes up based on the number of people living in the home. The highest gross income that someone can have is 200% of the federal poverty level. It is $2,430 a month for a single person, which goes up depending on the family size.
How to Apply for SNAP?
People in the area can apply on the Department of Social Services website or by filling out a form at any Department of Social Services office.
Residents can contact their state or local SNAP office to apply for SNAP. In some states, they can be used in person, online, by mail, or by fax. Before they can get SNAP benefits, you might have to go through an interview.
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