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2021 - 2022 Releases

‘Pandemic EBT’ Child Care program bringing extra food benefits to over 39,865 young children in Connecticut on December 4

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Education and Office of Early Childhood, today announced that $15.5 million in special food assistance benefits are scheduled to be distributed Sunday, December 4, 2022, to the families of 39,865 children under age 6 and who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This is the last major distribution in the current round of $145.8 million in food benefits going to nearly 282,900 schoolchildren, and 39,865 children under age 6 in childcare through the federal ‘Pandemic EBT’ (or P-EBT) program covering the 2021 – 2022 school year and subsequent summer period.

Specific information about the December 4 distribution of Pandemic EBT Child Care benefits:

• DSS expects to deposit benefits onto existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards by 5 p.m. on December 4, 2022, to nearly 31,450 households (39,865 eligible children) who were under age 6 and receiving SNAP benefits from DSS between July 1, 2022, and August 31, 2022, unless the child already received Summer Pandemic EBT Children in School benefits by being eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program at their school.
• The distribution will include benefits deposited onto existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards of SNAP-eligible households who welcomed a child born in either July or August 2022.   
• The planned one-time additional benefit is $391 per child.
• DSS has already deposited benefits totaling $111.9 million dollars to 282,900 schoolchildren eligible who received free and reduced-priced meals at their school as of the end of the 2021–2022 school year on October 31, 2022, and November 7, 2022.
• Families do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits, as DSS uses SNAP eligibility information to determine if children are eligible for P-EBT Child Care benefits.

Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards. This includes famers markets and direct market farms.

P-EBT participants also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers ACME, Amazon, ALDI and Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, Big Y, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarket, Price Rite, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, ShopRite, Stop and Shop, Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods. Additional information on that is available at www.ct.gov/snap.

Food budgets can be stretched further with WIC. Households with kids under age 5, new parents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may be eligible to receive healthy foods, free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to helpful resources. To apply or learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/DPH/WIC/WIC.

All children up to five years of age receiving SNAP benefits are also eligible for FREE Head Start/Early Head Start programming. Head Start provides programs that develop early learning skills, healthy lifestyles, language and literacy skills, and other academic needs. Visit https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/programs/article/head-start-programs or contact OEC.HSCollaboration@ct.gov for more information on this FREE program and how to enroll.

DSS received information from the Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Education to implement the P-EBT Child Care plan, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. The P-EBT Child Care SNAP funding was authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, with additional amendments made in the Continuing Appropriations Act and Other Extensions Act of 2021, as well as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

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‘Pandemic EBT’ food benefits going to over 65,770 schoolchildren on November 7

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Education, today announced that $32.5 million in special food assistance benefits is scheduled to be distributed beginning Monday, November 7, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. to the families of over 65,770 schoolchildren who are enrolled in the free or reduced-price meals program and who do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), or Medicaid (HUSKY A) assistance from DSS. 

This is the next distribution of food benefits that will go to a total of approximately 286,360 schoolchildren through the federal Summer Pandemic EBT: Children in School program.  This provides SNAP benefits to families of children who were eligible to receive free and reduced-priced meals at their school as of the end of the 2021–2022 school year, and covers the summer period of July 2022–August 2022.  

Specifically:

• The Department of Social Services is issuing benefits to the households of over 65,770 children not currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), or HUSKY Health/Medicaid who were also receiving free and reduced priced meals in their school as of June 2022, regardless of learning model. DSS has scheduled the deposit of Summer Pandemic EBT food benefits onto the existing EBT accounts on November 7, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.
• An additional 17,500 children eligible for this Summer Pandemic EBT: Children in School distribution, but who previously did not receive a Pandemic EBT card, will receive their distribution when their households are mailed EBT cards beginning November 18. The new EBT cards will arrive with instructions on how to activate them and access the food benefits.
• This current distribution includes students who attended a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, in which all students in that school receive meals at no cost to families.
• The planned one-time additional benefit is $391 per child enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program.
• An additional distribution for approximately 54,000 SNAP household children under the age of 6 and who are not enrolled in school is expected in early December.
• To date, before the upcoming November 7 distribution, DSS, in partnership with the Department of Education, has provided over $561.4 million in P-EBT benefits for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years to over 280,000 public school and private school students who are eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program.
• Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards.  This includes farmers’ markets and direct market farms.  In fact, enrollees can double the value of Pandemic EBT or other SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets participating in CT Fresh Match (more information on that program can be found at www.endhungerct.org/services/farmers-markets). Pandemic EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers Amazon, Aldi and Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, Acme, Big Y, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarkets, PriceRite, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, ShopRite, Stop and Shop Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods.

For more information, visit https://portal.ct.gov/p-ebt

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‘Pandemic EBT’ food benefits going to over 203,100 schoolchildren on October 31

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Education, today announced that $79.4 million in special food assistance benefits will be distributed Monday, October 31, 2022, to the families of nearly 203,100 schoolchildren who are enrolled in the free or reduced-price meals program and who receive services from the Department of Social Services.

This is the first distribution of food benefits that will go to a total of approximately 286,360 schoolchildren through the federal Summer Pandemic EBT: Children in School program.  This provides SNAP benefits to families of children who were eligible to receive free and reduced-priced meals at their school as of the end of the 2021–2022 school year, and covers the summer period of July 2022–August 2022. An additional distribution for approximately 83,270 children who do not receive services from DSS is expected to be announced in November.

Specifically:

• The Department of Social Services is issuing benefits to the households of 203,100 children currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), or HUSKY Health/Medicaid who were also receiving free and reduced priced meals in their school as of June 2022, regardless of learning model. DSS will deposit Summer Pandemic EBT food benefits onto the existing EBT accounts on October 31, 2021. For nearly 17,340 families that previously did not receive a Pandemic EBT card, new EBT cards will be mailed beginning on The first week of November, 2022, and will arrive with instructions on how to activate them and access the food benefits.
• The planned one-time additional benefit is $391 per child enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program.
• To date, before the upcoming October 31 distribution, DSS, in partnership with the Department of Education, has provided over $482 million in P-EBT benefits for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years to over 300,000 public school and private school students who are eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program.
• Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards.  This includes farmers’ markets and direct market farms.  In fact, enrollees can double the value of Pandemic EBT or other SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets participating in CT Fresh Match (more information on that program can be found at www.endhungerct.org/services/farmers-markets). Pandemic EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers Amazon, Aldi and Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, Acme, Big Y, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarkets, PriceRite, Sam’s Club Scan & Go, ShopRite, Stop and Shop Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods.

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Pandemic EBT Child Care program bringing extra food benefits to over 53,500 young children in Connecticut on October 16

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Education, today announced that $13.7 million in special food assistance benefits will be available Sunday, October 16, 2022, to the families of over 53,500 children under age 6 enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  

Specific information about the distribution of Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Child Care benefits:

• DSS will deposit benefits this Saturday onto existing SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards of over 40,800 households with 53,500 eligible children who were under age six as of September 1, 2021, unless the child already received Pandemic EBT Children in School benefits by being enrolled in the free or reduced-price meals program at their school, and having missed school due to a COVID-19 related absence.
• After the deposit, these benefits are scheduled to be activated and available for the purchase of food on Sunday, October 16.
• Benefits may differ from family to family and depend on how many months the child received SNAP as a member of his or her eligible household between September 2021 and June 2022.
• Each eligible household whose child received SNAP benefits in all months from September 2021 through June 2022 will receive $331.65 per eligible child. Households whose child began receiving SNAP benefits after September 1, 2021, or ended before June 30, 2022, will receive a lower amount.
• DSS began sending letters to all eligible households on October 1, 2022, notifying them of these benefits.
• Families do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits, as DSS uses SNAP eligibility information to determine if children are eligible for P-EBT Child Care benefits.

Benefits can be used at any location that accepts SNAP/EBT cards. This includes farmers markets and direct market farms. In fact, enrollees can double the value of P-EBT or other SNAP benefits at farmers markets that are participating in CT Fresh Match. Additional information on that program can be found online at www.endhungerct.org/services/farmers-markets.

P-EBT participants will also have online access to eligible food purchases through delivery or curbside pickup at participating retailers Amazon, Aldi, Amazon, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Food Bazaar, Geissler’s Supermarkets, Price Chopper/Market 32 via Instacart, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and Walmart.  Additional information is available at www.ct.gov/snap.

Food budgets can be stretched further with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Households with children under age 5, new parents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may be eligible to receive healthy foods, free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to helpful resources. To apply or learn more, visit portal.ct.gov/DPH/WIC/WIC.  

All children up to five years of age receiving SNAP benefits are also now eligible for free Head Start/Early Head Start programming.  Head Start provides programs that develop early learning skills, healthy lifestyles, language and literacy skills, and other academic needs. To learn more, visit https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/programs/article/head-start-programs or contact OEC.HSCollaboration@ct.gov.

DSS received information from the Department of Education to enable implementation of the P-EBT Child Care plan, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. The P-EBT Child Care SNAP funding was authorized by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, with additional amendments made in the Continuing Appropriations Act and Other Extensions Act of 2021, as well as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

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Next distribution of ‘Pandemic EBT’ food benefits coming to over 27,900 school children Monday, September 19.

Special food assistance benefits under the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program will be distributed Monday to more than 27,900 school children who qualified for P-EBT benefits during school year (SY) 2021–22 and who did not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), or Medicaid (HUSKY A) from the Department of Social Services (DSS). Over $1.2 million in benefits will be provided statewide, with an average benefit of $46.00 per student.

This is the second distribution of the larger $118.1 million in P-EBT food benefits that will be issued to more than 287,000 school children in Connecticut SY 2021-22 and the subsequent 2022 summer period. The first distribution, to over 71,650 schoolchildren whose families are clients of DSS, occurred August 29, 2022.

Specifically:

• On September 19, DSS will deposit P-EBT benefits onto the existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to more than 27,900 school children that were not enrolled in SNAP, TFA, or HUSKY A in SY 2021-22.
• New EBT cards will only be issued to households that have not previously received an EBT card from DSS. The EBT card will arrive with instructions on how to activate the card and access the food benefits.
• This current distribution includes students who attended a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, in which all students in that school receive meals at no cost to families.
• This single benefit deposit covers the entire 2021–22 school year. A separate benefit deposit covering the 2022 summer period is expected later this year.
• P-EBT benefit amounts are determined based on and depend on each student’s absences due to COVID-19 in each month of SY 2021-22 and will therefore differ among recipients.
• The average benefit amount in this distribution is $46.00 per student. 

The Pandemic EBT benefits are administered in Connecticut by DSS, in cooperation with the State Department of Education. Federal support is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. 

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Distribution of ‘Pandemic EBT’ food benefits distributed to over 71,650 schoolchildren

Special food assistance benefits under the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program were distributed last week to families of over 71,650 schoolchildren who are Department of Social Services (DSS) clients and who qualified for P-EBT benefits during the 2021 – 2022 School Year.  Over $3.4 million in  benefits were provided statewide, with an average benefit of $49.50 per child.

This is the first distribution of the larger $118.1 million in food benefits going to over 287,000 schoolchildren in Connecticut covering the 2021 – 2022 School Year and subsequent summer period through the federal P-EBT program.

Specifically:

• On August 29, DSS began depositing P-EBT benefits onto the existing electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to households of over 71,650 schoolchildren currently enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Family Assistance (TFA); or HUSKY Health/Medicaid Programs.  EBT cards were issued to households that have not previously received an EBT card from DSS. The EBT card will arrive with instructions on how to activate them and access the food benefits.
• This current distribution does not include children who attended a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, in which all children are eligible for free meals. Those benefits are expected to be distributed beginning on a date in mid-September to be announced.
• Families will see a single benefit deposit covering the entire 2021 – 2022 School Year.  A separate benefit deposit covering the summer period is expected later this year.
• Benefits will differ from student to student and depend on the learning model the child was in each month of the 2021 – 2022 School Year.
• The average benefit amount in this distribution is $45.90 per child. 

The Pandemic EBT benefits are administered in Connecticut by DSS, in cooperation with the Department of Education.  Federal support is provided by the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.