‘Extra’ SNAP benefits ending: Nonprofits bracing for expiry of pandemic enhancements to food program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments (EAs), one of the most critical federal pandemic programs to support food security, will end in February. 

Recipients will see their last additional benefit, a second payment loaded automatically on their EBT card, toward the end of February. 

This reduction in benefits was triggered by the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in December 2022. The SNAP benefits increased in March 2020, with each household receiving the maximum SNAP benefit, an additional benefit of hundreds of dollars per household per month.

What does the SNAP change mean for Lancastrians?

Beginning next month, local households receiving SNAP benefits will see only one monthly payment on their EBT cards.  

The average monthly SNAP benefits per person in Lancaster County are projected to fall by $103, or 38% — from $273 to $170. Overall, this change reduces federal food assistance to Lancaster County families, and by extension income to area SNAP grocers and food retailers, by more than $5.7 million per month ($200 million statewide).

Today, there are more Lancastrians receiving SNAP benefits than there were at the height of the pandemic – 55,160 as of December 2022, up from 53,662 in June 2020. With the high level of SNAP beneficiaries who will lose emergency allotments, and the current high level of inflation, organizations in the Hunger Free Lancaster Coalition are bracing for a substantial increase in food assistance requests.

Joe Arthur, Executive Director of Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, reports that demand for food assistance is up significantly across Pennsylvania and the nation.

“Our network of partner agencies provided about 20% more food over the last seven months as compared to the same period just prior to the pandemic,” Arthur said, adding that the loss of SNAP Emergency Allotments should be expected to bring more pressure upon charitable food assistance providers.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) will be sending a notice about the reduced benefits to all participating households. Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, the acting DHS secretary, recently warned that because of this year’s Social Security cost of living adjustment, the impact of the upcoming reduction in SNAP benefits may disproportionately hurt older Pennsylvanians.

Government resources

To ensure that families and people in need get the highest benefit they are eligible for, they should report any changes and submit any verifications not submitted at the time of their initial application or last renewal, including:

• New address
• Loss of employment, fewer work hours, or lower pay rate
• Childcare expenses
• Court-ordered child support paid
• Rent, mortgage, property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, condo association fees
• Out-of-pocket medical expenses (for anyone 60+ or permanently disabled)

These changes can be reported, and verifications submitted at:

• The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s SNAP Helpline at (877) 999-5964
• DHS’s Customer Service Center at (877) 395-8930
• MyCOMPASS PA mobile app
• MyCOMPASS website
• Lancaster County Assistance Office

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

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, the Lancaster County Office of Aging, or call the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank at (717) 564-1700.