DHSS Press Release

Molly Magarik, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498

Date: January 15, 2021
DHSS-1-2021

DELAWARE'S SNAP RECIPIENTS WILL SEE MONTHLY BENEFITS INCREASE 15 PERCENT THROUGH JUNE 2021

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 15, 2021) - Delaware households currently receiving food benefits will receive an additional 15 percent in benefits each month from now through June under federal spending legislation signed in late December.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 temporarily increased the maximum monthly allotment of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15 percent effective in January and ending in June, at which time benefits will revert to their current amounts.

SNAP households that had open, ongoing cases before Jan. 1, 2021, will receive their regular monthly benefit on their normal issuance date as well as the additional 15 percent increase supplemental. The 15 percent increase supplemental will be added to households' Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards on Jan. 26, and the benefits will be available for use the following day. SNAP households that were determined eligible after Jan. 1 already received the increase in their January benefit on their normal issuance date at the new increased amount; they will not receive the 15 percent increase supplemental on Jan. 26. Food benefits that will be issued from February 2021 through June 2021 will include the 15 percent increase and will be issued automatically to recipients on their normal issuance dates. The 15 percent benefit increase is based on each household's current benefit amount and may be less than the amounts shown in the chart below.

TEMPORARY 15% MAXIMUM FOOD BENEFIT ALLOTMENT INCREASE

Household Size	Current Amount	15% Increase Supplemental (January 2021 Only)	Effective January 2021 - June 2021 (Current Amount + 15% Increase Supplemental
1	$204	$30	$234
2	$374	$56	$430
3	$535	$81	$616
4	680	$102	$782
5	$807	$122	$929
6	$969	$145	$1,114
7	$1,071	$161	$1,232
8	$1,224	$184	$1408
Each additional person	$153	$123	$176

Please note that this new, temporary 15 percent benefit is in addition to the emergency COVID-19 benefit that has been issued monthly since March 2020 to SNAP households that are not already receiving the maximum monthly allotment for their household size. The emergency benefit for January will be issued to eligible households on Jan. 27; the emergency benefit may continue month-to-month as long as Delaware's State of Emergency remains in effect.

"This temporary increase will provide much-needed relief over the next several months to Delaware's SNAP recipients as they continue to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic," said Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. "Along with our local efforts, the additional SNAP benefit and other federal assistance will help vulnerable Delawareans provide for themselves and their families in the face of ongoing challenges created by the public health emergency."

More than 120,000 Delawareans receive SNAP benefits. The average size of a SNAP household in Delaware is 2.04 individuals and the average monthly benefit amount is $233. Individuals seeking to apply for SNAP benefits in Delaware may apply online at https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/ or by phone at 1-866-843-7212.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DELAWARE'S SNAP RECIPIENTS WILL SEE MONTHLY BENEFITS INCREASE 15 PERCENT THROUGH JUNE 2021

Delaware's Government