Enhanced SNAP Food Benefits Coming to an End
February 2023 is the last month that temporary additional SNAP benefits, also known as emergency allotments, will be paid. This will have an impact on SNAP households that have been receiving the additional emergency allotment for the past two years. The federal, pandemic-era benefit, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was implemented to help low-income families and individuals buy groceries. Beginning March 1, 2023, SNAP households will see a reduction in benefits to the pre-pandemic monthly amount.
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) recognizes this change may have a significant impact on many SNAP families. To help reduce the impact on households, DDPHE recommends families and individuals who rely on SNAP prepare now for the decrease in benefits.
- Start now. Figure out how the decrease in SNAP benefits will affect your grocery budget and adjust it now.
- Conserve and roll over unused SNAP benefits to thenext month. Unused benefits can remain on EBT cards for up to nine months. This may help cushion the impact of the reduction in benefits.
- Stock up on non-perishable items now, while you have the additional benefits.
- Prepare a shopping list with items that you really need and stick to it. For example, omit beverages like soda pop and fruit drinks, which can be expensive. Instead, try to stick to water and milk at home.
- Utilize free online resources for affordable meal and snack ideas. Some sites have SNAP-friendly suggestions
- Come up with substitutes for items that have been and may be hard to find. This will help you stick to the items you really need.
- Buy perishable food items that you can freeze to help stretch out SNAP benefits.
FREE At-Home Test Kits Still Available
Testing for COVID-19 continues to be one of the best ways to minimize the spread in our community. At-home test kits are still available:
- Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home tests from the federal government.
- Free testing kits are available at most Denver recreation centers.
- At-home test kits are available for purchase on retail sites like Amazon, CVS, Walmart and Walgreens.
- In-person and drive-thru testing is available at pharmacies and drug stores like Walgreens, CVS, King Soopers and Safeway.
