1/10/23 Update:
COVID-19 Emergency Allotments to ALL Families/Individuals Receiving SNAP in January – Upcoming Hunger Cliff Looms as Congress Ends Emergency Allotments in February
See the COVID-19 January Emergency Allotments to SNAP Households guidance from OTDA.
Background:
Emergency Allotments (EA) of SNAP benefits were authorized by Congress under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) were intended to continue for the duration of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration. However, the omnibus bill passed by Congress in December 2022 put into law a premature end to SNAP EAs, setting February 2023 as the last month of distribution. In March 2023 all SNAP households in New York State will receive their normal benefit amount, without the added allotment.
This will hasten the hunger cliff for millions of people with low incomes. SNAP recipients of all ages will lose benefits, but the steepest cliff will be for older adults at the minimum benefit level who will have their monthly SNAP benefit fall from $281 to $23.
Hunger Solutions New York will be providing more information and resources in the days to come.
Please see this FAQ from NYSOTDA about the end of EA in February 2023.
January SNAP EA Benefit
This Consumer FAQ explains who will receive the January EA supplement benefit, provides a SNAP maximum benefit allotments chart, and highlights what SNAP clients should know about this supplement SNAP benefit.
Issuance Schedule for January 2023:
- NYC: issuance based on the last digit of the case number from 1/12 through 1/27/23. SNAP EA benefits will be available the day after they are issued per the dates above.
- Rest of State: issuance based on each district’s caseload which will be divided randomly from 1/9 through 1/12, and 1/16 through 1/19/23. SNAP EA benefits will be available after midnight on the day after they are issued per the dates above.
Additional Issuance Days in January: due to the volume of cases receiving EAs in January it may be necessary for OTDA to add days to the issuance schedule above.
Other Important Details:
- In April 2021 all SNAP households became eligible for the EA of SNAP benefits due to USDA’s new guidance. EA of SNAP benefits are now:
- $95 a month for those already receiving the maximum SNAP benefit,
- $95 a month for those with a calculated EA amount between $1 and $95, and
- for all other households the EA amount will equal the difference between their regular monthly SNAP benefit and the maximum benefit for their household’s size.
- In January, all SNAP households eligible for a SNAP benefit will receive an EA supplement.
- The January EA supplement will be automatically added to the SNAP EBT card of each eligible SNAP household. A notice about the EA supplement will not be sent by the SNAP office. Those eligible for the supplement should keep checking their EBT balance.
- For newly approved SNAP cases in January, additional issuances will be run to catch those cases that did not receive the January EA supplement in the original issuances listed above.
- Families and individuals who get SNAP and who are eligible to receive the January EA SNAP supplemental benefit do not need to do anything. SNAP clients do not need to apply for the benefit and are being asked not to call local districts to inquire about the benefit.
- EA SNAP supplement benefits do not need to be spent immediately. Unused SNAP benefits, including the EA supplement, remain available on the EBT card for 274 days.
1/10/23 Update:
COVID-19 SNAP Interview Adjustment Available to Counties Through Feb 28, 2023
OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
The Continuing Resolution (CR) signed into law on October 1, 2020, reinstated the SNAP interview adjustment waivers and certification extension period waiver originally authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The CR reinstated and extended the availability of these waivers through June 30, 2021. Then USDA extended the timeframe that states could extend these interview waivers through the month following the end of the federal public health emergency which is now in effect through January 11, 2023.
In NYS, the following SNAP COVID interview waivers have been approved by USDA and are now in effect through February 28, 2023.
Interview Adjustments at Initial Application and Recertification
SNAP offices are not required to interview new SNAP applicant households that apply by February 28 or recertifying households whose recertification application is received by February 28 and whose last month of certification is on or before February 28 — if the following conditions are met:
- The applicant’s identity has been verified; and,
- All other mandatory information and verification has been provided and is valid:
- Identity
- Social Security Number
- Residency
- Gross non-exempt income (earned and unearned)
- Disability
- Immigration Status (also referred to as, “Alien Status” by OTDA)
- If either of these conditions are not met, then an interview will be required.
- SNAP offices are directed to make every attempt to verify household circumstances through data matching and information currently present in the State and district systems.
- SNAP offices will be required to interview the household if any of the information or verification submitted is unclear or cannot be verified through separate data matches.
SNAP offices have a choice in implementing these adjustments.
New Applications Eligible for Expedited Processing
SNAP offices can choose to apply the following rules through February 28, 2023. SNAP applicants who apply before February 28, 2023, that are found eligible for expedited processing may be processed and an expedited benefit issued without an interview being attempted or taking place if the following conditions are met:
- the applicant’s identity has been verified; and
- the applicant has provided enough information for the SNAP office to determine eligibility and calculate a SNAP benefit.
SNAP applicants who receive an expedited benefit and are being processed for ongoing SNAP benefits do not need to be interviewed if they submitted all mandatory verification (see list of mandatory verification above) prior to receiving the ongoing SNAP benefits.
11/30/22 Update:
COVID-19 SNAP Telephonic Signature Extended Through February 28, 2023
NYS OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
The Continuing Resolution (CR) signed into law on October 1, 2020, reinstated the SNAP interview adjustment waivers and certification extension period waiver originally authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The CR reinstated and extended the availability of these waivers through June 30, 2021. USDA has again extended the timeframe that states can extend the telephone signature waivers through the end of the federal public health emergency (FPHE).
The Telephonic Signature Waiver will continue to be available to SNAP offices in NYS through February 28, 2023
Telephonic Signature is a temporary waiver due to COVID-19 that allows SNAP offices to adjust the requirements for recording a telephonic signature for SNAP applications filed over the telephone or submitted without a signature. SNAP offices can choose to implement this waiver and must let OTDA know that they are implementing this waiver.
Reminder: As of June 30, 2022, all SNAP offices in NYS must require interviews at initial application and recertification. This also applies to applications eligible for expedited processing.
For more information on the SNAP interview process, see our SNAP Prescreening Guide, Applying for SNAP section.
7/8/22 Update:
COVID-19 SNAP Treatment of Health Care Worker Bonus Payments
NYS OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
The recently enacted 2022-2023 NYS Fiscal Year Budget introduced the potential for Health Care Worker Bonus payments in State Fiscal Year 2023. This new section of the budget directs the Commissioner of Health to seek federal approval and federal/state funding to provide certain frontline health care and mental hygiene workers with bonuses of up to $3,000 to encourage the recruitment and retention of these workers during a time of staff shortages and turnover in the health care field. The budget requires that these bonuses be exempted for public assistance purposes.
The GIS covers Temporary Assistance (TA), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) treatment of the bonuses. This update only covers the treatment of the bonuses in relation to SNAP.
For SNAP, any Health Care Work Bonus paid to individuals is excluded from being counted as income.
Due to Categorical Eligibility, most SNAP households in NYS are not held to a resource test. For any SNAP participant/applicant that is subject to a resource test, these payments are considered countable resources in the month they are received and remain a countable resource as long as they are readily available to the household.
For more information on resources and income for SNAP purposes see our SNAP Prescreening Guide, Budgeting and Estimating SNAP Benefits.
7/21/21 Update:
Resuming SNAP Employment Requirements Following COVID-19 Closures
OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local SNAP offices which highlighted the following:
Beginning on August 1, 2021, SNAP offices may start in-person employment assessments and mandatory in-person work activity assignments for SNAP recipients who must participate in Employment and Training (E&T) activities under SNAP rules.
For more information on SNAP E&T requirements, exemptions and activities see our SNAP Prescreening Guide pages 36-39 and Appendix K.
SNAP offices are encouraged to reach out to local worksites, employment vendors and community-based workforce partners to discuss capacity, programming options and other planning to ensure a smooth transition for SNAP recipients.
Employment Assessments and Employment Plan
SNAP offices may choose to do employment assessments and employment plans by telephone or in-person. The following applies:
- If a SNAP office is unable to conduct assessments or develop employment plans safely with in-person meetings then they should continue to conduct these by phone.
- SNAP recipients must be properly notified of the upcoming phone assessment appointment and reasonable attempts to contact the individual must be made and be present in the case file.
Orientation
SNAP offices can start conducting in-person orientations in accordance with social distancing guidelines, and ensuring that proper safety and sanitation procedures are in place. The following applies:
- SNAP offices may continue to conduct employment orientations individually during the eligibility interview, over the phone, online or by providing written materials by mail.
- SNAP recipients who do not attend an employment orientation will not be subject to negative action solely for failing to attend the orientation.
Verifying Exemptions from Work Requirements
SNAP applicants who are exempt from work requirements must provide proof to the SNAP office. A SNAP applicant/recipient who claims they are exempt from work requirements and fails to provide documentation to support this will be subject to SNAP work requirements and sanctions for failing to participate. The following applies:
- SNAP applicants must be given 10 calendar days to submit needed medical documentation and must be provided with the approved form used by the district.
- Individuals having trouble getting the medical documentation needed in a timely manner due to limitations of the medical provider may request and be granted additional time. This must be noted in the case record.
- The SNAP office is required to assist individuals who are unable to get the needed documents when the individual makes known that they have made reasonable efforts to obtain the information from a third party and the third party fails or refuses to provide the needed information.
- If there is a fee for providing the information the SNAP office must pay this fee or assist the applicant in getting the information.
- The SNAP office must consider all good cause factors before any negative action is taken.
Work Activities
SNAP offices may begin to assign in-person work activities for non-exempt SNAP applicants/recipients on August 1, 2021. The following applies:
- Unvaccinated SNAP applicants or recipients may be unable to participate in a work/education activity if there is a COVID-19 vaccine requirement. In this case, the SNAP office may not take a negative action against the individual.
- SNAP offices cannot require that a SNAP applicant or recipient get a COVID-19 vaccination in order to participate in a work/education activity or accept an offer of employment and must provide other work activities in these cases.
- Any individual unable to attend a work activity due to barriers (e.g., no child care available, lack of transportation, etc.) must be afforded good cause and aided in overcoming the barrier.
- SNAP offices should provide masks and other protective gear to individuals when needed or requested and if not otherwise provided by the employer or work site.
Job Search and Job Readiness
On August 1, 2021, SNAP offices may start to assign mandatory job search and job readiness activities. When starting job search/job readiness activities, SNAP offices must ensure that individuals assigned to these activities have the necessary resources to fully participate in the assignment. This includes:
- Understanding local barriers and limitations due to COVID-19 on the availability of libraries, career centers and employment services, and helping individuals identify available job search resources and employment opportunities.
- Ensuring individuals have access to a computer, internet, in-person or remote job search assistance as well as access to needed supportive services like child care and transportation.
Willful and Without Good Cause Determinations
SNAP applicants/recipients who fail to comply with a mandatory work activity assignment, including virtual work assignments made by the SNAP office must, be given a chance to explain why they did not comply. This is called a conciliation.
- During conciliation, the SNAP office must evaluate the individual’s reasons and any other evidence about the failure to comply, and decide whether the failure to comply was both willful and without good cause.
- Conciliation can be done in-person, by phone or in writing by the individual.
- SNAP offices must provide supportive services for those who fail to comply including but not limited to things like childcare, books and supplies.
- SNAP offices may not require individuals to get a COVID-19 vaccine in order to participate in a specific work or educational activity or accept a job with a specific employer.
- SNAP offices must grant good cause if an individual is not able to participate in an activity for this reason and must provide other referrals to more suitable activities.
- If a good cause exemption is not met by the SNAP applicant/recipient they can avoid a SNAP employment sanction by participating in the employment activities assigned by the SNAP office.
5/25/21 Update:
Verification of Eligibility for the Temporary Federal Student Exemptions
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that was signed into law on December 27 temporarily expands SNAP eligibility for students who are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education.
On April 27, OTDA issued a notice on the Temporary Expansion of Student Eligibility to local social service districts.
See our January 25th post below for more information on the temporary federal student exemptions that the Act put in place or see our SNAP and Student web page.
The Act temporarily expands the student eligibility rules by adding the following two exemptions to the list of student exemptions during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- A student is eligible for SNAP if the student is eligible to participate in state or federal work-study, regardless if the student is actively employed or participating in work-study and meets all other SNAP eligibility criteria.
- A student is eligible for SNAP if they have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year under federal student financial aid rules and meets all other SNAP eligibility criteria.
Students must provide proof to the SNAP office that they meet any of the above exemptions. The following documents are acceptable:
- Eligible to participate in state or federal work-study;
- A copy of the financial aid award letter, or
- Request in writing that the institution of higher learning communicate with the SNAP office the student’s eligibility to participate in work study.
- Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year;
- A copy of the financial aid award letter provided to a student by the institution of higher education, or
- A copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR), or
- Request in writing that the institution of higher learning communicate with the SNAP office verifying the EFC of zero for the student.
The amended student eligibility rules will remain in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 federal public health emergency is lifted. Students granted one of these temporary exemptions will continue to be eligible for SNAP until their next recertification regardless of the COVID-19 emergency declaration being lifted at any time during the student’s certification period.
4/2/21 Update:
On March 23, OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The Act includes the extension of previously authorized Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Benefit payments, the issuance of 2021 Recovery Rebate Payments and monthly Child Tax Credits.
This update highlights how these payments will be treated under SNAP rules.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Payments:
The ARP authorized extensions for both Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) through September 6, 2021.
SNAP budgeting rules count Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) as unearned income. Both the PUA and PEUC are for workers who are ineligible for regular UIB. Therefore, the PUA and PEUC benefits are viewed as regular unemployment benefits for workers under SNAP rules.
Additionally, the ARP extends the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Payments (FPUC) through September 6, 2021. The FPUC provides an additional $300 in federally funded dollars to the weekly UIB payments of eligible worker and will be provided through the NYS Department of Labor. The FPUC payments are also available to people who have earned over $5,000 or more in self-employment income during the last year. This is called a Mixed Earner Benefit and is equal to an additional $100 each week in UIB benefits to eligible workers.
Treatment as Income/Resources for SNAP:
- UIB/PUA/PEUC payments COUNT as unearned income.
- FPUC $300/$100 payments are EXCLUDED as income and resources in the month of receipt and for 9 months following receipt.
- Retroactive FPUC payments are excluded as income for SNAP.
2021 Recovery Rebates (aka Stimulus Checks)
The Act authorizes additional recovery rebates for individuals including children, similar to the payments authorized under the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 when $1,200 payments and $600 payments were authorized.
Treatment as Income/Resources for SNAP:
- Excluded as income in the month of receipt.
- Excluded as a resource* for 12 months following receipt.
*Most SNAP Households in NYS do not have a resource test for SNAP due to Categorical Eligibility (Cat-El).
2021 Child Tax Credits (CTC)
The ARP expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and allows households with children to claim up to $3,600 and allows for the CTC to be provided in advance monthly payments.
Treatment as Income/Resources for SNAP:
- Excluded as income in the month of receipt.
- This applies if the CTC is received as either an annual payment or advanced monthly payments.
- Excluded as a resource* for 12 months following receipt.
*Most SNAP Households in NYS do not have a resource test for SNAP due to Categorical Eligibility (Cat-El).
3/23/21 Update:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 brings much-needed relief to households in need, investing $12 billion in nutrition assistance programs designed to mitigate unprecedented rates of hunger across the nation.
The Act extends the 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit through September 2021. Other SNAP investments provide administrative funds to help states accommodate increased demand and expanded access for families to use SNAP benefits to purchase groceries online.
See our updated October 1 Toolkit with updated materials reflecting the extension of the 15% SNAP Boost.
1/25/21 Update:
SNAP Gets a 15% Boost and More in the Newest COVID Package Passed by Congress
The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that was signed into law on December 27 provides funding for needed nutrition assistance, including investments in SNAP, that will go a long way toward addressing the rising hunger crisis associated with the pandemic and economic downturn.
See the Upstate and NYC – Impacts of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 guidance from OTDA.
Six-Month Boost to SNAP Maximum Benefits
The Act increases the maximum monthly SNAP benefit allotments (AKA: Thrifty Food Plan) by 15% from January 1 through June 30, 2021.
See our SNAP Budget Worksheet for the updated Thrifty Food Plan (pg. 2, Chart D) amounts per household size that took effect on January 1.
The SNAP benefit increase is the difference between the old maximum benefit amount and the new maximum benefit amount based on household size.
For example:
SNAP Household Size |
October – December 2020 Benefit amount |
January – June 2021 Benefit Amount |
Change in Benefit Amount |
1 |
$204 |
$234 |
$30 |
2 |
$374 |
$430 |
$56 |
3 |
$535 |
$616 |
$81 |
Issuance Schedule for January 2021 15% SNAP Boost:In January only, the 15% increase will be issued as a supplement to all eligible SNAP households in addition to the January Emergency Allotments (EAs).
- NYC: issuance based on the last digit of the case number on 1/15, from 1/19 through 1/22, and from 1/25 through 1/29/2021.
- Rest of State: issuance based on each districts caseload which will be divided randomly, from 1/11 through 1/14, and from 1/18 through 1/21/2021.
Beginning in February and continuing through June, the 15% increase to the maximum SNAP benefits will be incorporated into the regular monthly SNAP benefit issuance processes and amounts.
Additionally, the NYS Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) benefits will increase by 15% from January 1 through June 30, 2021. Find an updated NYSNIP Matrix with the temporary increase included here.
Minimum Benefit Change
The Act also increase the minimum monthly SNAP allotment for households of one or two from $16 to $19.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Payments
This package extends the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Payments (FPUC) by providing an additional $300 a week of federally funded unemployment benefits to eligible workers.
Under SNAP rules, the $300 FPUC does not count as income or a resource when determining eligibility and calculating benefits for SNAP.
Student Eligibility
The Act temporarily expands SNAP eligibility for students who are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education.
SNAP rules regulate that students enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher learning must be working 20 hours or more a week or meet an exemption to the student rules in order to participate in SNAP. For more information on the SNAP rules for students, see our SNAP Prescreening Guide (pgs. 30 -31).
First, the Act amends an already allowable exemption around work study. Prior to January students participating in work study (no hourly minimum) were eligible for SNAP if they met all other income and eligibility criteria.
The amended exemption is below:
- A student is eligible for SNAP if the student is eligible to participate in state or federal work-study, regardless if the student is actively employed or participating in work-study and meets all other SNAP eligibility criteria.
Second, the Act offers a new allowable exemption for students:
- A student is eligible for SNAP if they have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year under federal student financial aid rules (determination under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that is used to calculate the amount of federal Pell Grants and other aid for a which a student qualifies) and meets all other SNAP eligibility criteria.
The amended student eligibility rules will remain in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 federal public health emergency is lifted. Students granted one of these temporary exemptions will continue to be eligible for SNAP until their next recertification regardless of the COVID-19 emergency declaration being lifted at any time during the student’s certification period.
For more information, visit our SNAP and Students page.
2020 Recovery Rebate Payments for Individuals
Finally, the Act authorizes $600 rebate payments to eligible individuals, including children, similar to those authorize under the CARES Act.
For SNAP purposes these rebate payments are:
- excluded as income in the month they are received, and
- excluded as a resource for 12 months following receipt.
9/29/20 Update:
On September 24, OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
Treatment of the New Supplement Lost Wages Payments for SNAP
Supplemental Lost Wages (SLW) payments are being issued by the NYS Department of Labor and provide an additional $300 in federally funded dollars each week to the Unemployment Insurance Benefit (UBI) of eligible workers.
- SLW payments must NOT be counted as income or as a resource in determining eligibility or calculating a benefit amount for SNAP.
- If a SNAP recipient receives the SLW retroactively, the retroactive benefits are also not counted as income.
- The SLW payments are funded differently than the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments of $600. This is why the SLW payments are treated differently under SNAP rules.
On August 14, OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social services districts. Highlights include:
9/14/20 Update:
On September 10th the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) released a fraud alert warning of scams targeting SNAP recipients. Highlights include:
- USDA has received reports of several possible SNAP Fraud attempts including attempts in NYC.
- Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information. The text might say you were chosen to receive food stamps or SNAP. If you do not know if a request for information about SNAP is real or not, contact your local SNAP office.
- Never share personal information with individuals or organizations that you do not know. Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or SNAP electronic benefits transfer card or PIN number.
- If you think the text is a scam, do not reply at all. Just delete.
- If SNAP participants are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, USDA advises they contact their local SNAP office. To find your local SNAP/HRA office call:
- Outside New York City, dial 800-342-3009
- In New York City, dial 311.
- To stay on top of potential scams, please visit:
4/8/20 Update:
On April 6, OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
SNAP Treatment of COVID-19 Stimulus “Recovery Rebates”
The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes direct payments for low- and middle-income families of $1,200 for most adults ($2,400 for a married couple) and $500 for children under age 17.
Treatment as Income:
- The one-time “Recovery Rebate” payments are not counted as income for SNAP. The payment is excluded as a non-recurring, lump sum payment, and does not count as income under SNAP rules.
Treatment as a Resources:
Most SNAP Households in NYS do not have a resource test for SNAP due to Categorical Eligibility (Cat-El). The information below applies to households who are NOT categorically eligible for SNAP.
- For households currently receiving SNAP: payments are excluded as a resource for 12 months from the date the payment is received. Any remaining balance after a year would be counted as a resource.
- For new SNAP applicants: payments are excluded as a resource in the month received, and the month after. Any remaining balance would be counted as a resource in the following months.
3/26/20 Update:
On March 24th, NYS OTDA issued a notice on COVID-19 to local social service districts. Highlights include:
- SNAP offices provide essential services and are exempt from the in-person work restrictions put in place in NYS and regardless of county-wide mandates to close county government offices.