The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced that all New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits beginning in April. Additionally, those households already near or at the maximum benefit level now will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95 per month for as long as the supplemental payments continue.

The emergency assistance supplement is provided to those SNAP households that do not ordinarily receive the maximum allowable benefit per month. The additional food benefits will be distributed starting  Recent federal action will now provide a minimum supplement of $95 per month to all households already receiving the maximum level of food benefits. Households that had been receiving an emergency allotment of less than $95 per month also will now receive a minimum supplement of $95.

The passage of the American Rescue Plan in March extended the 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits through September. Initially due to expire in June, the bump in food benefits will provide about $30 more per person, per month, or about $120 more per month for a household of four, according to federal estimates. With the 15 percent increase factored in, the maximum benefit level in New York State for an individual is $234 and $782 for a family of four.

As with the prior months, the payments will be delivered directly to recipients’ existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account and can be accessed with their existing EBT card. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. Any unused SNAP benefits will be automatically carried over to the following month.

The additional SNAP benefits have provided more than $1.5 billion in federal dollars to local retailers throughout the state since last April. Struggling New Yorkers continue to rely heavily on SNAP as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. As of January, there were more than 2.7 million SNAP recipients throughout the state, a 7.3-percent increase from the same month in 2020.

For more information on the emergency supplemental SNAP benefits, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19. New Yorkers can check their eligibility for SNAP and apply online by visiting mybenefits.ny.gov.