SNAP Emergency Allotments Ending in February

 Beginning on March 1, 2023, Cuyahoga County residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to assist in purchasing food for their families, will see a reduction in the total amount received each month as an emergency allotment program ends in February.

 The last SNAP emergency allotments will be issued to customers in February, 2023. Beginning in March 2023, customers will receive their standard SNAP allotment only. Customers will no longer receive the additional emergency allotment that came at the end of the month.

Please note that neither the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, nor Cuyahoga Job and Family Services, have control over this change. Because this is a federal law change, there are no fair hearing rights or fair hearing benefits on the ending of the SNAP emergency allotments.

 This increased benefit was delivered to households in the form of an emergency allotment, loaded separately onto a customer’s Ohio Direction cards at the end of each month beginning in April 2020. Customers first received their monthly benefit amount determined by the eligibility specialist based on household income and expenses. Later in the month, the emergency allotment would be loaded in one of two ways:

• Families who were not receiving the maximum benefit received the difference between their standard benefit and the maximum benefit for their household size.
• Families who were already in receipt of the maximum benefit or within $95 of the difference between their standard amount and the maximum benefit for their household size received an additional $95 supplement.

 Click here to view a complete FAQ on the end of SNAP Emergency Allotments.

To check your benefit amount or update your case:

Customers who want to check their standard benefit amount, can call the Ohio Direction Card Customer Service Center at 1-866-386-3071 or visit the Self-Service Portal at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.

 Resources for Cuyahoga County Residents

The resources below may assist families in need: 

•  Produce Perks – Stretch SNAP dollars in partnership with select Dave’s Supermarkets and local farmers markets.
  
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank – The online “Find Food Near Me” tool provides locations of food pantries, mobile pantries, and hot meal sites.
• United Way 2-1-1 – The United Way Help Center is open 24 hours a day by calling 2-1-1 for resources and information about food, clothing, housing, health care and more.
• The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) – NEOCH publishes a street card with information on meal sites, housing, counseling, and more.