Are we getting additional food stamps this month

Answers to many commonly asked questions about the Supplemental Emergency Allotment (EA) of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits.

In March 2020, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed in response to effects of the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. The law authorized issuance of emergency allotment supplemental benefits to households receiving SNAP. Based on the law, beginning in March 2020, states were given permission to issue supplemental EA SNAP benefits to households not receiving the maximum benefit for the household’s size. The amount of the supplement was the difference between the benefit the household normally would receive and the maximum for the household’s size. States were given permission to issue the supplements as long as the federal public health emergency caused by the pandemic remains in effect. New York has issued the supplemental benefits every month since March 2020 and will continue issuing monthly EA SNAP benefits as long as the national public health emergency remains in effect.

Beginning in April 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed the supplementation policy and authorized the payment of a supplement of at least $95 to all households receiving SNAP benefits.

Beginning April 2021, all households receiving SNAP benefits will receive at least $95 per month in supplemental EA SNAP benefits. This includes households already receiving the maximum SNAP benefit amount for their household size, and households that are eligible for a monthly supplement of less than $95.

The USDA re-evaluated the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) in 2022. As a result, beginning October 1, 2022, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amounts (by household size) were increased to:

If you are already eligible for the maximum SNAP benefit amount for your household’s size, or are eligible for a supplemental EA SNAP benefit of less than $95, you will receive a monthly supplemental EA SNAP benefit of $95.

While the federal public health emergency remains in effect, SNAP households are eligible to receive EA supplemental SNAP benefits in the amount that will bring them up to the maximum SNAP monthly benefit level for their household size or a supplement of $95—whichever amount is greater.

For example, the maximum allowable monthly amount of SNAP benefits for a household of 4 people is $939. If that household receives $400 a month in normal SNAP benefits, they will receive a supplemental EA SNAP benefit of $539. If the same household was already receiving the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount of $939, their supplemental EA SNAP benefit would be $95— bringing their total monthly SNAP benefit to $1,034.

No, you do not need to apply for supplemental EA SNAP benefits. Households automatically receive their supplemental EA SNAP benefits on their EBT card.

If you are not currently enrolled in SNAP, the quickest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online at: myBenefits.ny.gov or https://access.nyc.gov/ (if you live in New York City).

You can find information about how to check your available SNAP balance on your EBT card at: https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/ebt/.

The supplemental EA benefits are SNAP benefits. Like regular SNAP benefits, the supplemental benefits can be used to purchase food at authorized retail food stores. A detailed list of food items that may be purchased with SNAP benefits can be found at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items/.

No. Unused SNAP benefits, including supplements, remain available and accessible on your EBT card for at least 274 days from the date they are issued.

This page provides information about FoodShare and other food benefits during the federal COVID-19 public health emergency.

FoodShare members are getting extra FoodShare benefits in December

If you are enrolled in FoodShare, you are getting extra FoodShare benefits in December to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. All FoodShare members are getting at least $95 in additional benefits each month. Some households will get more to bring their benefit amount to the maximum monthly benefit amount for their household size. 

These additional FoodShare benefits will be on your QUEST card on December 18. You will be sent a letter the week of December 18 telling you that you about the extra benefits you received.

We are also checking that everyone who should have received extra benefits got them. As a result, some members may get their October benefits on their cards on December 11.

You can check the balance on your QUEST card at any time in the MyACCESS app, or through the ebtEDGE website or ebtEDGE mobile app or by calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.

Note:  These extra benefits are continuing at this time. When we know that these extra benefits related to COVID-19 are ending, we will tell you in this space and through a letter in the mail. 

Maximum monthly benefit amounts based on eligible people in the household People in householdMaximum monthly benefit amount1$2812$5163$7404$9395$1,1166$1,3397$1,4808$1,691Each additional person$211

Food benefits for students and young children

To be notified of updates about any of the P-EBT programs, sign up to get P-EBT emails.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program that provides food benefits to the families of children who may be experiencing greater need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits are put on families' existing QUEST cards or on special P-EBT cards if they don't have a QUEST card. Families are encouraged to keep their P-EBT card even when they finish using benefits, as benefits may be put on it in the future if they are eligible.

There are three kinds of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) programs:

School P-EBT

Created by Congress in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the School P-EBT program provides vital benefits to families of children who, because of COVID-19, miss the free or reduced priced meals they would normally have gotten at their school. Only children who are enrolled in the free or reduced price meals program and who attend schools that participate in the USDA’s National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program are eligible for School P-EBT.

Learn more about eligibility for School P-EBT.

Wisconsin has successfully implemented School P-EBT in each of the school years since the start of the pandemic: 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022. The program’s rules and eligibility criteria have changed from year to year, but the goal has remained the same: to provide benefits to families whose children are unable to access free or reduced price meals at school because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022-2023 School Year: We recently received information from the federal government that explains how the School Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (School P-EBT) program will work in the 2022-23 school year. In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of Children and Families, we are preparing a plan which we will submit to our federal partners for approval.

Pre-6 P-EBT

Pre-6 P-EBT was designed to help families whose young children may have been at home more often due to closures of child care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides benefits for families in FoodShare with children under the age of 6 who do not receive School P-EBT during the school year. FoodShare recipients do not need to do anything to receive these benefits.

Learn more about Pre-6 P-EBT eligibility 

2022-2023: We recently received information from the federal government that explains how the Pre-6 Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (Pre-6 P-EBT) program will work in the 2022-23 school year. In partnership with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), we are preparing a plan which we will submit to our federal partners for approval.

Summer P-EBT

Wisconsin’s Summer P-EBT program provides benefits to families of eligible school-age children and eligible non-school-age children to help cover the cost of meals between school years. 

You can read Wisconsin’s federally approved Summer P-EBT plan for the 2021-2022 year (PDF).

For a child to have been eligible for Summer P-EBT in the summer of 2022, at least one of the following things must have been true: 

• They were enrolled in the free or reduced price meal program (at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and that met certain other program eligibility criteria) during the 2021-2022 school year; OR
• They received Pre-6 P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year and were part of a household that received FoodShare benefits during at least one of the summer months of 2022 (June, July, or August); OR
• They were newly enrolled in the free or reduced price meal program (at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program) for the 2022-2023 school year as of September 1, 2022; OR
• They did not receive any Pre-6 P-EBT benefits during the 2021-2022 school year but do meet certain other program eligibility criteria and were part of a household that received FoodShare benefits during at least one of the summer months of 2022 (June, July, or August).

Each eligible child received a total of $391 for the summer of 2022. Benefits were first sent to families with eligible children on August 20, 2022. Families whose children were not determined eligible until after that first issuance will receive beneftis on October 22,2022.

Families that already have P-EBT cards should save them as Summer P-EBT and other P-EBT program benefits may be put on these cards. Alternatively, Summer P-EBT benefits are put onto QUEST cards for families that have them.

Ordering and paying for food online using your QUEST or P-EBT card

• ALDI
• Amazon
• Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery
• Miller and Sons Supermarket
• Meijer 
• Ptacek's IGA
• Sam’s Club Scan and Go
• Schnuck’s Market
• Target
• Walmart
• Woodman’s Markets

(Store websites may refer to your QUEST or P-EBT card as a “SNAP EBT” or “EBT” cards.) Look for an EBT or SNAP card option when you go to pay and enter your card details. You will need to enter your card PIN each time you check out.

You can only use your QUEST or P-EBT card to buy food eligible for FoodShare. If you are buying other items at the same time, you need to use another form of payment to pay for those items.

Some stores may offer delivery. If you are charged a delivery fee, you will not be able to use your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay this fee. You will need to use another form of payment instead.

If you experience any issues when using your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay online, first make sure you have a balance on your card by going to the ebtEDGE website, using the ebtEDGE mobile app, or calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164. If you have a balance and are still unable to complete your transaction, contact customer service at the store where you are trying to make the purchase for help.

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