DELAWARE WILL ISSUE MONTHLY EMERGENCY BENEFITS ON JAN. 26 TO ALL SNAP HOUSEHOLDS AND ELIGIBLE TANF AND GENERAL ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 25, 2023) - The Delaware Division of Social Services (DSS) will issue emergency benefits for January 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, Jan. 26. Eligible TANF and GA households will receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Thursday, Jan. 26.

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is also announcing that emergency food benefits for households receiving SNAP will end March 2023 due to a recent change in federal law passed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This means households will receive their final emergency food benefit at the end of February. Beginning March 1, 2023, households will receive their regular monthly benefit amount on the normal issuance date and will no longer receive additional emergency food benefits on their EBT cards at the end of each month.

"We are so thankful that we were able to offer these emergency benefits to the many Delawareans who have experienced economic struggles and health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. "We know this change likely will cause a hardship for many individuals and families, so we want to ensure that those individuals who relied on these additional funds each month are aware of the community resources that may be available to them." DHSS encourages Delawareans in need of food assistance to contact Delaware 2-1-1 to find the nearest food closet or pantry or visit the Food Bank of Delaware's website at fbd.org.

Through the end of February, all households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

1. SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size or a prorated initial benefit will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.
2. SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.
3. 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 increases 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 January are not eligible for the January emergency cash funds. Emergency cash benefits will continue during the COVID-19 public health emergency. DHSS has issued emergency benefits each month to eligible households since March 2020.

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 $181 in emergency benefits ($281 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

An estimated 60,500 Delaware households will receive the emergency SNAP allotment in January, totaling about $12.5 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency cash benefits
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

General Assistance (GA)

An estimated 170 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in January, totaling about $ 21,150 in emergency benefits for the month.

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

Households should report to DSS any recent changes in address, household size, employment, income, and expenses (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and child care). Households can report changes by logging in to Delaware ASSIST, calling 1-866-843-7212, or contacting their local DSS office.

For more information about DSS's benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to 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.

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