DELAWARE WILL ISSUE EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR FEBRUARY TO ELIGIBLE SNAP, TANF, AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS

NEW CASTLE (Feb. 22, 2021) - 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 crisis.

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 issued Wednesday, Feb. 24, and should be available on recipients' Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards the next day Feb. 25. TANF and GA households should receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Feb. 24.

This emergency assistance will increase a household's monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size (see tables below). Households that already receive the maximum benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in the month of February are not eligible for the February emergency funds.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which was signed into law in March 2020, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has issued emergency benefits each month to any household not already receiving the maximum monthly benefit.

"The public-health emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge vulnerable Delawareans who struggle to support themselves and their families," said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. "This added financial assistance helps to provide some measure of security for those in need during this crisis."

Households have received or will receive their regular benefits for February on the usual issuance dates. Please note that regular SNAP benefit allotment amounts increased by 15 percent starting in January and the increase will continue monthly through June as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This temporary increase in food benefits is another measure to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic. All SNAP households will receive the temporary increase for February in their normal February benefit issuance.

Here are the maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size:

Emergency SNAP benefits

An estimated 34,015 households will be eligible to receive the emergency SNAP allotment in February, totaling about $6.9 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency cash benefits
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

General Assistance (GA)

An estimated 160 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in February, totaling about $20,750 in emergency benefits for the month.

For more information about DSS's benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/covid19.html. To apply for benefits, go to https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/ or call 1-866-843-7212. To limit the spread of COVID-19, clients are asked to contact the Division of Social Services by phone or online.

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.

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