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COLORADO - SNAP AND EBT UPDATES

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    Dear Retail Partners,

    I am writing to inform you of a critical change that will likely have a significant impact on your operations.

    Background:

    As part of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), Colorado has been issuing max allotment (Emergency Allotment or “EA)” since the beginning of the Pandemic. Max Allotment brings all households up to the maximum allowable benefit for their household size, as opposed to only a calculated benefit based on income and expenses. Households that were already receiving the maximum amount were issued an additional $95 per month.

    The Omnibus Bill (Consolidated Appropriations Act) signed into law on December 30, 2022, uncoupled EA from the PHE. So while the PHE continues, EA has started to sunset.

     

    Scope of impact:

    All SNAP Participating households will see a reduction in SNAP after the February issuance. In January, Colorado projects issuing a total of $158,000,000 in SNAP, of which $55,000,000 is max allotment (EA). In addition to the household impact, Colorado’s food producing and retail economy will see this as a loss in revenue.

    This change is at least a $95 per month reduction per household (for those that otherwise would get the maximum SNAP benefit) and a larger reduction for those with more income and lower benefits under regular program rules (up to $600). On average the reduction is about $90 per person per month, $360 for a household of four.

    Nationwide, this will cut SNAP by about $3 billion a month for the months that EAs otherwise would have continued.

    P-EBT

    Colorado will be issuing a final adjustment to Pandemic EBT (reimbursement for school meals lost as a result of COVID outbreaks) beginning January 13.

    The exact numbers are estimated as follows:

    Total No. Of Students To Receive Corrected Benefits

    65,672

    Total Issuance Amount

    $2,899,084

    Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

    Karla

     

    Karla Maraccini

    Division Director, Food & Energy Assistance

    Pronouns: She/Her/Hers 

     

    CDHS logo

     

    Phone: 303-866-2535

    1575 Sherman St, 3rd Floor, Denver, CO 80203

    karla.maraccini@state.co.us| www.Colorado.gov 

    National Release:

    Dear State Association Executives:

    We wanted to alert you to changes that will be coming to SNAP benefits and update you on the new Summer EBT program as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The SNAP emergency allotments (EAs) will end nationwide after the February 2023 benefit month. That means in March 2023, SNAP benefit amounts will be returning to normal for all SNAP households (with the exception of South Carolina, which is ending emergency allotments after January 2023 issuance, so their SNAP benefits return to normal in February). Under the new guidance, states are not allowed to issue EA benefits for a phase-out month after benefit month February 2023, which was in previous guidance when EAs were to end after the public health emergency expires. This will be an impactful change for many SNAP households in those states still issuing EAs that will see their benefits dropping by $95 or more in some cases. Please read the SNAP benefit Changes 2023 FAQs for more information about the changes, which includes both SNAP and Social Security benefit changes.  

    Guidance for the Summer EBT for Children (SEBTC) program, which will be a permanent, nationwide program, is still under development. FMI is reaching out to USDA to learn more information about when the program will start, if states will have to apply or if the benefits will be automatic and eligibility guidelines for children. USDA has repurposed a landing page for the SEBTC program which currently contains information from the 2018/2019 demonstration pilots, however it appears that this is where the new program information will be posted when available. Once we have additional clarity on this program, we will send out the information.  

    Resources: