Beginning March 2023, all households eligible for the NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive a minimum $50 monthly benefit following the end of federal SNAP emergency allotments in February.
The New Jersey Department of Human Services shares that the COVID‐19 pandemic, SNAP households have benefited from emergency allotments from the federal government, which provided households with higher monthly food assistance benefits and totaled more than $2 billion. Starting in March, SNAP households will only get their regular SNAP payment loaded to their EBT card.
“Recognizing the challenges families continue to face affording healthy and nutritious food and groceries, New Jersey set a SNAP minimum benefit ensuring all SNAP recipients will receive at least $50 per month in assistance now that the federal emergency allotments are ending,” said Director Frank J. DiMarco.
Under the new minimum benefit program, if a SNAP household was approved for less than $50 in SNAP benefits ($23 is the minimum federal SNAP benefit), they will receive their regular monthly benefit plus an additional state supplement to bring them to $50. The NJ Department of Human Services will mail notices in February to all SNAP households advising them of the benefit reduction along with a reminder of their regular benefit amount resuming in March.
“I urge our residents to check their SNAP benefits so they are prepared before heading to the grocery store. Those that are in need of additional services can visit nj211.org or contact the Gloucester County Division of Social Services,” said Commissioner Jim Jefferson.
Commissioner Jim Jefferson serves as the liaison to the Gloucester County Division of Social Services and says SNAP recipients worried about the overall reduction in benefits should check their eligibility for other food assistance programs including WIC for women and children under 5, free or reduced school meals, or the commodity supplemental food program for older adults over 60 years of age.
For more information from Gloucester County Division of Social Services, please call 856-582-9200 or visit https://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/510/Social-Services.
For more information about additional food resources, visit nj211.org/food‐programs‐and‐community‐resources or text your zip code to 898‐ 211.