SNAP Emergency Allotments to End by March 

Beginning March 2023, all states will return to issuing standard SNAP benefit amounts without the pandemic-related bonus known as emergency allotments (EAs). As emergency allotments were always intended to be temporary, many households will experience a reduction in benefits at a time when some are still struggling with the impacts of inflation and high food costs.  FNS has developed a webpage that contains more information on this. 

 

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which ends SNAP EAs previously provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The last benefit month for EAs will be February 2023. Throughout 2021 and 2022, 17 states already stopped issuing EAs. In the Midwest Region, the states that previously stopped issuing EAs are: Iowa and Indiana. 

 

The end of the EA will fall two months after the implementation of the largest Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the last 40 years, which will even further reduce SNAP benefits for households that also receive Social Security benefits. 

 

Social Security is the most common source of income for SNAP households. When Social Security or any household income goes up, SNAP benefits may go down. However, it is not dollar for dollar; Social Security will increase more than SNAP benefits will decrease. 

 

It is important to note that Tribal organizations that operate the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations may see an increase in FDPIR participation after EAs end.   Additionally, more Americans may turn to the emergency food network for aid (i.e. TEFAP use may increase) in the coming months. 

 

Any SNAP household looking for additional information on these how these changes will impact their benefits should contact their local SNAP office.