What to Know About Upcoming SNAP Changes in 2023

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, all SNAP households — nationwide — have been receiving a temporary extra COVID SNAP benefit allotment each month, in addition to the monthly SNAP benefit amount they qualify for.

All SNAP recipients, nationwide, received their first COVID-SNAP extra allotment in April 2020. And recipients have received this extra allotment every month since. This extra COVID-SNAP benefit brought every SNAP recipient up to the maximum benefit level by household size. Everyone has been receiving the maximum SNAP benefit amount, in response to the COVID-pandemic. 

Recent action by Congress is ending these additional, federally funded benefits. However, in March, Massachusetts passed a state supplemental budget providing an additional, state-funded SNAP benefit allotment at a total of up to 40% of your previous extra COVID SNAP benefit amount for 3 months. The state-funded extra SNAP benefits will be available in the beginning of April, May, and June 2023 for the prior month. For example, households eligible for SNAP in March will receive the extra SNAP in early April. The payment amount will equal up to 40% of the difference between a household’s maximum benefit amount for their household size and their regular monthly benefit amount, with a minimum amount of $38 a month.

The state-funded extra SNAP benefits will be distributed on the following dates: April 7, May 2, June 2.

This also means that starting in July 2023, you will only receive the benefit amount that you originally qualified for, based on a number of factors including your household size, monthly income and certain expenses. 

If you are currently getting SNAP you have likely already received or will receive a text from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and a letter in the mail informing you about these changes. This change is not the result of any actions on your part, nor is it a penalty for anything you’ve done. 

YES. You are still enrolled in SNAP. The only thing changing is the total benefit amount you will receive monthly. We also encourage you to stay up to date with your SNAP recertification, even if there is a large difference in your monthly benefit amount. There are still many benefits to SNAP, such as qualifying children for free school meals and discounts on utility services.

YES. You still qualify for SNAP. You are now just receiving the normal amount that you qualify for, instead of the maximum amount that everyone was receiving during the public health emergency.

The COVID-19 public health emergency is ending and with that Congress has decided to end the federally-funded extra COVID SNAP benefits as of February 2023. Your benefit amount will change because you're not getting the maximum benefit anymore beginning April 2023. In April, May and June 2023, your household will receive two SNAP payments: your normal monthly benefit and the state-funded extra SNAP benefit, which will equal up to 40% of the difference between a household’s maximum benefit amount for your household size and your normal monthly benefit amount, with a minimum amount of $38 a month.

This is not a DTA decision to change your benefit amounts. The state has a dedicated website, Mass.gov/ExtraCOVIDSNAP, to provide information on the state-funded extra benefits and help households plan for the end of the temporary federal and state benefits.

You can call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1.800.645.8333 and get re-screened for SNAP — even if you are already receiving SNAP benefits — to see how you can maximize your benefit amount. Project Bread’s counselors can share what additional resources are available to you to help you boost your food budget, put food on the table, and save.

If you have specific questions about your SNAP benefits and your case with DTA, you need to call DTA’s Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363 or visit DTAConnect.com. You can get case information and make certain updates 24/7 via automated prompts on the Assistance Line and speak with a worker Monday through Friday from 8:15am to 4:45pm.