Extra COVID Food Funds for Families Ending March 2
Extra COVID Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments, were created during the pandemic to help individuals and families buy food. These extra COVID benefits are the difference between a household’s normal benefit amount and the maximum amount for their household size, with a minimum amount of $95 a month. The benefits have been put on EBT cards at the beginning of each month. Since March 2020, Massachusetts has elected to utilize this temporary benefit program that was made available under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.
Recent action by the federal government (through the Congressional Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023) ends the extra COVID SNAP benefits as of February 2023. This means that Massachusetts households will receive their last extra COVID SNAP payment on March 2, 2023.
The state has launched a new website: Federal Extra Pandemic SNAP Benefits to End | Mass.gov (Mass.gov/ExtraCOVIDSNAP) to help residents plan for the end of these temporary federal benefits. Over the next several months, individuals and families should explore any optional expenses that may increase their normal SNAP benefits.
Help spread the word about the end of these extra COVID SNAP benefits:
- Outreach materials are available in 16 languages - including flyers, text/email/robocall templates and social media posts.
- Videos are available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL).
- Encourage households to visit Federal Extra Pandemic SNAP Benefits to End | Mass.gov to learn how they can get the most out of their SNAP benefits, save some of it to help after March 2, and be connected with other resources