The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provided States with the option to request additional SNAP benefits for households in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Department of Human Services in partnership with MNIT has been issuing emergency SNAP benefits for eligible SNAP households since April 2020.
The temporary boost to SNAP benefits will end nationwide after February 2023. This means, most SNAP eligible households will receive their last E-SNAP benefit in March 2023 based on SNAP eligibility in February. Department staff will continue to issue E-SNAP benefits retroactively to some households due to delayed eligibility approvals.
In preparation for the end of Emergency SNAP, the department will:
- Send a written notice to all SNAP and MFIP Food households
- Send text messages to households we have permission to
- Announce on social media
- Announce on DHS web pages
- Announce and provide communication resources to SNAP advocates and stakeholders
- News release
Households will continue to receive regular SNAP benefits for as long as they are eligible.
Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
In addition, households that receive SNAP and Social Security benefits will see a decrease in their SNAP benefits because of the significant cost of living increase to Social Security benefits that took effect on Jan. 1, 2023. More details on these changes can be found below. This page will be updated as additional information and resources become available.
Visit Changes to SNAP Benefit Amounts - 2023 | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) to learn more and review FAQs regarding both of these changes.