DHSS Press Release

DELAWARE WILL ISSUE MONTHLY EMERGENCY BENEFITS ON MARCH 24 TO ALL SNAP HOUSEHOLDS AND ELIGIBLE TANF AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS

NEW CASTLE (March 23, 2022) - The Delaware Division of Social Services will issue emergency benefits for March to eligible households as part of the State's ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

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 available on recipients' Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards Thursday, March 24. Eligible TANF and GA households will receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Thursday, March 24.

All households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

• SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size or a prorated initial benefit will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency benefit amount of $95 or more will continue to receive the calculated emergency benefit amount to increase the household's monthly benefit up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

The emergency assistance for TANF and GA families will increase a household's monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size. Households that already receive the maximum TANF or GA benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in the month of March are not eligible for the March emergency cash funds.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has issued emergency benefits each month to eligible households since March 2020.

"As we pass the two-year mark for the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know the pandemic's economic ripples have impacted far too many Delawareans, especially vulnerable individuals and families," said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. "Today, with COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continuing to decline in our state, we hope we are on a path of sustained recovery in which all Delawareans will be able to participate fully. While we understand there will come a time when these emergency benefits end, we are grateful to the federal government and Delaware's congressional delegation for providing these crucial and necessary benefits again this month."

How the monthly emergency benefit is calculated: A household's monthly emergency benefit equals the current maximum benefit amount for the household size minus the household's current monthly benefit amount. For example, based on current USDA limits for SNAP benefits, if a household of one gets $100 in regular monthly benefits, that household will receive $150 in emergency benefits ($250 maximum benefit minus $100 monthly benefit).

Here are the current maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size for SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance:

Emergency SNAP Benefits

Number in SNAP Household	Maximum Benefit Amount
1	$250
2	$459
3	$658
4	$835
5	$992
6	$1,190
7	$1,316
8	$1,504
Each additional person	$188

An estimated 58,227 Delaware households will receive the emergency SNAP allotment in March, totaling about $11.4 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 171 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in March, totaling about $26,973 in emergency benefits for the month.

In addition to the emergency benefits, households will receive their regular benefits for March on the usual issuance dates.

For more information about DSS's benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to the division's webpage. To screen for and apply for benefits, go to DHSS' online application portal Delaware ASSIST or call 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 Government

---

---