EBT Emergency Allotment Guidance- SNAP Benefits
Due to the pandemic, many Americans have difficulty meeting their needs. As a response, the US government has authorized the EBT emergency allotment, which is colloquially known as extra food stamps. The supplementary benefits are provided to eligible SNAP households to cover their needs during this time.
Nevertheless, a change in the EBT SNAP benefits brings many questions. If you are reading this, you likely have a few of your own concerning your EBT emergency allotment. Read on to discover more.
What Is EBT Emergency Allotment?
The EBT emergency allotment is the official name for the additional food stamps provided to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollers.
The emergency allotment is an extra benefit that regular SNAP benefit recipients receive throughout a Public Health Emergency like the pandemic. As stated earlier, the EBT emergency allotment aims to assist people by covering food expenses.
The Emergency Allotment program began in March 2020, when the FFCRA Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed into law as a response to the effects of the pandemic. The law authorized doling out emergency allotments of food stamps to households already receiving SNAP benefits.
In accordance with the law, states from March 2020 were able to issue emergency allotment snap benefits to households that hadn’t reached their maximum benefit threshold.
The value of the emergency allotment SNAP benefits was the difference between what that household would typically receive and the maximum for that household’s size.
Furthermore, states could issue the emergency allotment SNAP benefits so long as the federal public health emergency created by the pandemic was in effect.
Since April 2021, the USDA United States Department of Agriculture altered the emergency allotment policy, authorizing the payment of P EBT benefits valued at a minimum of $95 to all regular SNAP benefit recipients.
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Requirements for Emergency Allotment SNAP Benefits
Starting from April 2021, all SNAP households get a minimum of $95 per month in emergency allotments. This change also includes SNAP households already receiving maximum benefits for their household size.
As it stands, SNAP recipients do not have to reapply for emergency allotment benefits. SNAP households automatically get their extra benefit on the EBT card.
Learn how you can apply for food stamps.
What Can One Buy With the EBT Emergency Allotment Benefits?
It is important to note that emergency allotment benefits are the same are SNAP benefits. Just as with regular SNAP benefits, recipients can use the extra snap benefits to buy food at approved retail food stores.
Fortunately, unused SNAP benefits, including emergency benefits, can be used for a minimum of 274 days from their issued date.
EBT Emergency Allotment: Public Health Emergency
Emergency allotment SNAP benefits are provided during a public health emergency. A declaration must be made for a situation to become a public health emergency.
The declaration is an official recognition by the government by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, stating that a disorder or disease poses a severe risk to public health. When a public health emergency is declared, the Secretary can take certain steps, such as:
- Waiving particular regulations to enable a more efficient response
- Issuing guidance to healthcare practitioners on how to protect their persons and patients
- Authorizing the availability of federal resources to respond to the public health emergency
In addition, a public health emergency can be a great step in providing the Secretary with discretionary powers such as:
- Issuing travel advisories
- Deploying supplies and personnel
Once a Public Health Emergency is declared, it can be utilized to determine if SNAP emergency allotments are approved.
What Is the Value of the EBT Emergency Allotment Benefits?
So long as the federal public health emergency is in effect, SNAP recipients can receive an EBT emergency allowance valued at the remainder of their SNAP benefit allotment or an emergency allotment of $95—whichever amount is greater.
For instance, the maximum benefit for a household size of 4 is $939. If that household gets a regular snap benefit of $400 per month, they can receive an emergency allotment benefit worth $539.
However, if that same household already received the maximum benefit of $939, they will only have access to the EBT emergency allotment valued at $95. This brings their total to $1,034 monthly.
How Long Does the EBT Emergency Allotment Program Last?
A SNAP household can receive additional food stamps so long as the public health emergency declaration is in place. The timeline for extra benefits on this food assistance program will depend on the national public health emergency declaration and your state of residence’s disaster agency’s declaration.
A state can only provide emergency allotment benefits so long as two conditions are met:
- The state has a disaster or emergency declaration in place
- The national public health emergency declaration must be in place
If these conditions are met, the state can continue providing extra benefits for the food assistance program.
What Is the Maximum Benefit for SNAP Per Household Size?
Due to the USDA re-evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan in 2022, the maximum SNAP benefit from the 1st of October 2022 was increased to:
| SNAP Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit Amount |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each extra person | +$211 |
SNAP recipients who have already received their maximum benefit for their household size can still be eligible for a SNAP emergency allotment benefit of $95.
