Governor Hochul Announces $234 Million in Additional Food Assistance for February

All SNAP Households to Receive at Least the Maximum Level of Food Benefits

Federal Action Discontinues Monthly Supplemental Food Benefits After February 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive a supplemental allotment of food benefits for February, including those already receiving the maximum allowable level. Issued monthly to help New Yorkers weather the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the supplemental benefits will conclude after this month due to the changes prescribed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which was adopted by Congress late last year.

“In addition to SNAP, these monthly benefits have proven to be invaluable to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers dealing with food insecurity throughout the pandemic,” Governor Hochul said. “With these emergency supplemental benefits ending, we will continue to focus our efforts protecting New Yorkers who are struggling to feed themselves and their families by expanding eligibility and maximizing assistance through SNAP.”

The emergency assistance supplement will be provided to all households receiving SNAP – a federally funded program overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) –and result in an infusion of $234 million in federal funding into New York’s economy this month. All households, including those already receiving the maximum benefit for the household's size and households that formerly would have received a monthly supplement of less than $95, will receive a supplement of at least $95.

SNAP households in all counties outside of New York City should see these extra benefits issued by Friday, February 24. SNAP households in New York City should see their benefits issued by Tuesday, February 28.

OTDA began issuing the emergency supplemental benefits in April 2020 to those SNAP households receiving less than the maximum monthly benefit amount. When New York State's emergency declaration expired in June 2021, the agency successfully worked with the federal government to secure the authority to continue issuing the maximum allotment for all SNAP households.

The recently approved federal spending bill ends these temporary emergency allotments this month, meaning SNAP recipients will receive their regular monthly benefit beginning in March and moving forward. New York State received roughly $6.5 billion in additional federal food assistance between April 2020 and December 2022.

OTDA is mailing letters and sending text messages to all SNAP households to let recipients know that these additional monthly benefits are ending. The agency also has additional information at its website.

Other programs and services that SNAP recipients may be eligible for include:

• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which is available for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children under age 5 receiving SNAP may automatically qualify for.
• FreshConnect, Double Up Food Bucks and NYC Health Bucks, which provide coupons to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets or participating food retailers.
• The Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides discounts toward residential internet costs.
• The Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides home heating assistance.
• Food assistance from area food pantries.

As with the prior months, the February payments will be delivered directly to recipients' existing Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts and can be accessed with their existing EBT cards. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores.

Any unused SNAP benefits will automatically carry over to the following month. SNAP benefits will not be removed from a recipient’s card if they use their benefits any time within 274 days.

Find more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, here. New Yorkers interested in enrolling can check their SNAP eligibility, as well as apply online, by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov.