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DHSS Press Release

Molly Magarik, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: DPHMedia@Delaware.gov

Date: March 26, 2021
DHSS-3-2021

DELAWARE HAS ISSUED EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR MARCH TO ELIGIBLE SNAP, TANF, AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS

NEW CASTLE (March 26, 2021) - The Delaware Division of Social Services has issued emergency benefits for March to eligible households as part of the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Benefits were 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 were issued March 24, and should have been available on recipients' Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards as of March 25. TANF and GA households should receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after March 24.

The 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 March are not eligible for the March emergency funds.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that 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.

"We remain committed to helping vulnerable, low-income Delawareans support themselves and their families during the public-health emergency created by the pandemic," said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. "This assistance enables families to buy food that supports a nutritious diet, provides temporary help for adults with minor children as the family works to become self-supportive, and helps other individuals meet basic living expenses."

In addition to these emergency benefits during the pandemic, households continue to receive their regular monthly benefits on the usual issuance dates. The maximum SNAP benefit allotment amounts increased by 15 percent as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, enacted in late December. The temporary increase in food benefits will continue through Sept. 30 as another measure to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size:

Emergency SNAP benefits

Number in SNAP Household	Maximum Benefit Amount Adjusted with the 15 percent increase effective Jan-Sep 2021
1	$234
2	$430
3	$616
4	$782
5	$929
6	$1,114
7	$1,232
8	$1,408
Each additional person	$176

An estimated 34,450 households will be eligible to receive the emergency SNAP allotment in March, totaling about $7.4 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency cash benefits
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Number in TANF Household	Maximum Benefit Amount
1	$201
2	$270
3	$338
4	$407
5	$475
6	$544
7	$612
8	$681
9	$750
10	$819

General Assistance (GA)

Number in GA Household	Maximum Benefit Amount
1	$79
2	$107
3	$144
4	$169
5	$209
6	$239

An estimated 170 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in March, totaling about $22,000 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.

DELAWARE HAS ISSUED EMERGENCY BENEFITS FOR MARCH TO ELIGIBLE SNAP, TANF, AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS

Delaware's Government