SNAP-CARES Act (2024)

SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) are an additional SNAP payment that has been paid during the second half of each month since the pandemic started in 2020. These payments were authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Due to a recent change in federal law, SNAP households will no longer receive SNAP EA payments in the second half of the month. Starting in March 2023, SNAP households will only receive their regular SNAP payment.

The last extra payment for SNAP households will be sent in February. Starting in March 2023, SNAP households will only receive one SNAP payment.
Help is available! Please see the information on food assistance resources.

DHS knows that this is a big change for SNAP households. Please reach out to food assistance programs available in your community if you need help feeding yourself or your family. Find assistance programs at DHS' Ending Hunger site or from the Department of Agriculture.

What can I do now?

Finding Additional Help

FAQ

What can I do now?

We want to be sure that all SNAP recipients are receiving the maximum benefits for their household size and individual circ*mstances.

Your SNAP may go up if you tell us about:

Medical costs over $35 per month for anyone age 60 or older or disabled that you did not have before;
Increased housing costs since you last contacted us;
Child or disabled adult care costs that have changed since you last told us about what you had to pay.

SNAP recipients who know they have had changes to the number of people in their household, income, or expenses should report any changes at:

dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS,
the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or
by calling DHS's Customer Service Center at 1- 877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia residents).

This will help ensure households are receiving the most SNAP benefit they are eligible to receive.

FindingAdditional Help

DHS recognizes the impact these changes may have on households and wants to make sure families that need food assistance know where to go for help:

If you have children

SNAP recipients who are pregnant or have kids under 5 may be able to get help buying food from PA WIC. You can call 1-800-WIC-WINS or apply online at www.pawic.com.

If you or a loved one are a senior receiving SNAP

Beyond local charitable food programs like community food pantries, there are two food assistance programs specifically in place to help seniors access fresh, nutritious foods. The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with vouchers redeemable at more than 800 farm stands and more than 200 farmers' markets in Pennsylvania. The Senior Food Box Program can also provide eligible seniors with additional shelf-stable groceries. Learn more about these programs from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

FAQ

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Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Information

To check your EBT card balance, you can call 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366) or view it online at www.ConnectEBT.com. You can also view your benefits through the free myCOMPASS PA mobile app on your smart phone.

Contact

For other questions about your SNAP benefits, you can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia residents) or your local county assistance office.

Communications Toolkit

This communications toolkit is designedto help organizations, advocacy groups, government agencies, and others spread awareness about the changes to federal laws that will end the extra SNAP Emergency Allotment payments after February 2023. Feel free to use these materials to help educate and inform your audience about the changes.

Check back often because we will add new messages, graphics, and other material.

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