Emergency SNAP extra benefits will expire on Feb. 28, 2023. SNAP emergency allotments were authorized by the U.S. Congress beginning in March 2020 to help individuals and families with low incomes deal with the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, households eligible for the NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have benefited from emergency allotments from the federal government, which provided households with higher monthly food assistance benefits and totaled more than $2 billion. Starting in March, SNAP households will only get their regular SNAP payment loaded to their EBT card, with a minimum monthly benefit of $50 in New Jersey.

Governor Murphy signed legislation in June to establish the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program and to set the SNAP minimum benefit ensuring all SNAP recipients will receive at least $50 per month in assistance now that the federal emergency allotments are ending. New Jersey is the first state to set a minimum benefit, which required an $18 million investment in state funds.

Under the new minimum benefit program, if a SNAP household was approved for less than $50 in SNAP benefits ($23 is the minimum federal SNAP benefit), they will receive their regular monthly benefit plus an additional state supplement to bring them to $50.

Notices will be mailed in February to all SNAP households advising them of the benefit reduction along with a reminder of their regular benefit amount resuming in March.
 
Materials are available online in multiple languages about the end of the SNAP emergency allotments and what it means for SNAP households. Materials are available at NJSNAP.gov

SNAP recipients can also check their benefit detail at any time at www.njfamiliesfirst.com, or by using the Connect EBT mobile app or calling (800) 997-3333.

SNAP recipients worried about the overall reduction in benefits should check their eligibility for other food assistance programs including WIC for women and children under 5, free or reduced school meals, or the commodity supplemental food program for older adults over 60 years of age. For more information about additional food resources, visit nj211.org/food-programs-and-community-resources or text your zip code to 898-211.

As of November 2022, there were approximately 769,000 individuals enrolled in SNAP from 397,000 households.

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