August 6, 2014

GOV. MALLOY ANNOUNCES PLAN TO MAINTAIN FOOD AID UNDER LIHEAP PROGRAM

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that Connecticut will continue its policy of allocating additional assistance for low income residents so they can remain eligible for food assistance programs. The Governor's plan will dedicate $2.2 million to maintain current food-assistance benefits for approximately 100,000 households through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Under previous federal law, Connecticut only had to budget $100,000 a year under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - the equivalent of $1 per household - for these recipients to be eligible for enhanced SNAP benefits. Now, the federal government requires that the minimum level of LIHEAP aid to each household be $20 for the family to maintain the additional benefits under SNAP.

In March, Governor Malloy and Northeastern Governors urged the federal government to increase LIHEAP funding to better meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

"This should be an uncontroversial and bipartisan effort," said Governor Malloy. "There is no Democratic or Republican way to feed people and keep them warm. But there is a Connecticut way - doing as much as we can to care for those in need. This plan does that with what is available in federal aid."

The plan, for Federal Fiscal Year 2015, would also maintain significant levels of basic benefits and provide funding for crisis and safety net fuel deliveries. Due to both an extremely cold winter and the changes in the Federal program, the state estimates a $4.8 million reduction in available funding, necessitating a 6 percent reduction in most basic benefits. However, the proposal would not change eligibility under the program.

"If your circumstances haven't changed and you were eligible last year you will be eligible again," said Ben Barnes, Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). "Connecticut led the nation last year in protecting low-income families and elders from cuts in their federal SNAP benefits - we preserved about $66.6 million in federal aid that helps people pay for food."

Barnes pointed out that for the past three years the state has supplemented the federal heating program by providing over $5 million in assistance for Operation Fuel. He said that at least some of the federal aid would normally not be spent until Spring.

The plan, submitted to the General Assembly on August 1, would distribute just under $80 million for heating assistance.

###

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2014

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy