Important notice to all SNAP EBT Recipients, Extra Food Stamp Benefits End March 2023. The USDA has announced that The Extra Food Stamp Benefits will end in March 2023. On this note, all extra food stamp benefits will not continue after the February 2023 issuance. Making February the last month to receive your extra SNAP benefits through the Emergency Allotment (EA) Program.
Furthermore, households that receive SNAP and Social Security benefits will see a decrease in their SNAP benefits because of the cost-of-living increase to Social Security benefits that took effect on January 1, 2023. Keep reading this post for more information on these changes to the Food Stamps Program and SNAP EBT benefits for 2023.
Extra Food Stamp Benefits End In March 2023
On March 1, 2023, the Emergency Allotment Program will expire for all SNAP recipients nationwide.
The Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as P-SNAP was implemented to help address temporary food needs caused by COVID-19. P-SNAP provided emergency allotment benefits to households based on size.
Starting from March 2023, all SNAP benefit amounts will return to pre-pandemic normals for all food stamp households. This change will cause recipients of all ages will lose their extra food stamp benefits after February 2023.
Therefore, families are expected to lose an average of $82 per person in extra benefits. That means a family of four can expect to lose an average of $328 in food stamp benefits each month.
However, the steepest loss will be for seniors receiving SNAP benefits. Seniors receiving the minimum benefit amount can expect to lose $258 in monthly food stamp benefits. Their SNAP benefits are expected to fall from $281 a month to $23 a month.
How Much Will My Benefits Decrease?
For those households still receiving emergency allotment benefits, you can expect to see at least a $95 decrease in your benefits. Households receiving emergency allotment benefits were provided with an additional $95 in benefits OR the difference between their current benefits and the maximum benefit amount for their household size each month (whichever amount was greater).
When emergency allotments end, you will return to your normal SNAP benefit amount. To find out how much your normal SNAP benefit amount is, check out our Food Stamps Calculator for more details.
Why are the Extra Food Stamp Benefits Ending?
The extra food stamp benefits were a temporary increase in benefits to help low-income households deal with the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act recently passed by Congress ends emergency allotments after the February 2023 issuance. This means that by March 2023, all SNAP households’ benefits will return to normal amounts, without the added supplement.
SEE ALSO: Food Stamps Increase 25% for SNAP EBT Cardholders
From March 2023, all SNAP benefit amounts will return to pre-pandemic normals for all food stamp households. This means that households receiving both Social Security and SNAP may see a decrease in food stamps due to an increase in Social Security benefits.
Changes to Benefits for Households that Receive Social Security & SNAP
Due to the increase in Social Security benefits that went into effect on January 2023, households receiving both SNAP and Social Security may receive a reduction in their SNAP benefits.
Find out when households receiving both Social Security and SNAP benefits can expect to see a decrease in their benefits below:
States where emergency allotments have already ended, may begin to see a decrease in their SNAP benefits beginning January 2023.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
States, where emergency allotments have already ended, will begin to see a decrease in their benefits beginning January 2023.
South Carolina’s emergency allotment benefits will end after January 2023, so South Carolina households receiving Social Security and SNAP benefits may see a decrease in their benefits beginning February 2023.
In the 32 remaining states, DC, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, their emergency allotment benefits will in February 2023. That means that households in these states/territories receiving both Social Security and SNAP may see a decrease in their benefits beginning March 2023.
How much will my SNAP benefits change from the Social Security increase?
The Social Security adjustment only impacts SNAP households that also receive Social Security benefits. Even though this adjustment seems like it hurts recipients, it has actually been a good thing. That is because the adjustment has increased Social Security benefits more than it has decreased SNAP benefits.
With that said, some households will still experience a larger decrease in their SNAP benefits due to the end of emergency allotments occurring at the same time.
Will some Households lose SNAP benefits because of the Social Security increase?
It is possible that some households may lose their monthly SNAP EBT benefits due to the Social Security increase. Households would lose their SNAP benefits only if the increase in Social Security benefits made their income no longer eligible for food stamps.
Did SNAP Adjust their Benefit Amounts for Cost-of-Living?
Yes, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service changes SNAP benefits every year on October 1st for the cost-of-living adjustment.
You can learn more about all the changes that happened to food stamp benefits on October 1, 2022 in our article.
Social Security completes their annual cost-of-living adjustment each year on January 1st.
