Food Supports July 16 and July 23

food
July 19, 2021

Some news regarding food support:

As of last Friday, July 16: The next distribution of ‘Pandemic EBT’ food benefits went to 57,800 schoolchildren; EBT cards were mailed out. Specific information about the July 16 distribution:

  • DSS mailed Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards July 16 to households of over 57,800 schoolchildren not currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), or HUSKY Health/Medicaid; and who did not receive their benefits in April/May. DSS deposited P-EBT food benefits into their new accounts on July 16. The EBT cards will arrive with instructions on how to activate them and access the food benefits.
  • This includes children attending a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, in which all children are eligible for free meals. These are households that do not currently have EBT cards because they are not enrolled in SNAP or TFA.
  • Benefits may differ from student to student and depend on the learning model the child was in each month, with an average benefit amount estimated at $418 per child.
  • Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards. This includes farmers’ markets and direct market farms. In fact, enrollees can double the value of P-EBT or other SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets participating in CT Fresh Match. P-EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers Amazon, Aldi & Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, ShopRite, and Walmart. Click here for more.

Altogether, the number of children being served through the P-EBT program in Connecticut is approximately 275,450 in 206,450 households. The number includes 273,251 public school students and 2,204 private school students who participate in the free or reduced-price meals program.

Families do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits, as DSS and the Department of Education use attendance information provided by schools to determine if children are eligible for P-EBT.

Friday, July 23: Eligible Connecticut families will receive additional emergency food benefits Friday, July 23. The Connecticut Department of Social Services will deliver $33.2 million in Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to over 218,500 Connecticut households at the end of this week. Monthly allocations of emergency SNAP benefits are going to all enrolled households, based on continuance of a declared public health emergency related to COVID-19 in Connecticut. Details can be found by clicking here.