Temporary Emergency Supplemental Food Assistance Benefits
February 2023 is the last month households will receive at least $95 in emergency benefits or the maximum benefit for your household size, whichever is greater. These temporary additional emergency benefits will be available when your regular February SNAP benefits are available.
You will receive a notification in the mail in mid-February letting you know about the change and reminding you of your regular SNAP benefit amount.
Starting in March 2023, you will only receive your regular monthly benefit amount.
Additionally, starting in March 2023, all households eligible for SNAP will receive a minimum $50 monthly benefit. That means if your approved monthly benefit is less than $50, you will receive a supplemental payment to equal $50.
You can check your benefits, change your PIN, report a lost, stolen or damaged card and see your transaction history quickly and securely online at www.njfamiliesfirst.com or on the ConnectEBT app. The same username and password is used for both and can be set up either on the website or on the app. You will need to verify your identity when you set up your account. The ConnectEBT app is free and available in English and Spanish. You can download it in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. You also can call customer service at 1-800-997-3333, however, they may be experiencing higher call volumes, so please be patient. Please do not check your balance at the grocery store where cashiers may be very busy.
If you are worried about this reduction in benefits, you should find out what other food assistance programs you may be eligible for including WIC for women and children under 5, free or reduced school meals, or the commodity supplemental food program for adults 60 years of age and over. Visit www.nj211.org/njsnap to find more information and resources.
SNAP Emergency Allotment Update Flyer
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SNAP Interim Reporting and Recertification
To stay on SNAP, there are some things you need to do periodically that you may not have been required to do during COVID-19 pandemic. These steps are no longer paused and need to be completed to continue to receive your SNAP benefits.
SNAP Interim Reporting Form (IRF)
An IRF will be sent to you about halfway through your SNAP certification period. You must complete the IRF when it is sent to you and return it or your case will be closed and benefits will end. You may return the IRF by mail in the provided postage paid envelope, by fax it to the number located at the top left of the form or in-person directly to your local board of social services.
If you received a final notice to complete your IRF, but did not receive a form, contact DFD at 1-800-792-9773, press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish and then select option 1 for SNAP assistance. If your case has closed due to an IRF issue, please contact your local board of social services for assistance.
SNAP Recertification
When you are due for a recertification, you will receive a Notice of Expiration letter in the mail from your local board of social services with your interview date. Contact your local board of social services if you have questions about your notice, if you need help completing your recertification, or if your case has closed due to a recertification issue.
More information about staying on SNAP, including IRFs and recertification can be found in the SNAP Recipient section of www.NJSNAP.gov.
College Students
More college students may be eligible for SNAP. You may be eligible if you are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education and:
are eligible to participate in a State or federally financed work-study program as determined by the institution of higher education; or
in the current academic year, have an Expected Family Contribution of $0 as determined by the Higher Education Act
This expanded SNAP eligibility for college students will be available as long as federal public health state of emergency remains in place and for 30 days after the federal public health state of emergency expires.
For more information about eligibility for college students, visit the Who is Eligible section of Get SNAP on www.NJSNAP.gov.