Since April 2020, the Benefits Plus Learning Center has been current on the changes to policy and procedures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the pandemic there were many federal and state waivers to provide greater flexibility in the application process for cash benefit programs. However, many of these waivers have [...]

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 law, which was recently passed by Congress, ended the SNAP Emergency Allotment (EA), also known as a SNAP supplement. By March 2023, all SNAP households’ benefits will return to “normal amounts” (budgeted amounts), without the added supplement. View USDA announcement here. Background: On March 2020, NYS elected to utilize this temporary [...]

A waiver has been extended through February 28, 2023 to continue accepting applications for Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits over the phone without requiring a signature on an application. In addition, the waiver will extend domestic violence waivers, as well as other procedures and processes that require frequent contact with individuals experiencing homelessness and residing in [...]

New Income Guidelines and Increase in Benefit AmountsClick here for a full chart of the updated income guidelines for the SNAP program in NYS effective October 1, 2022. In addition, the maximum SNAP benefit amount, the shelter cap, as well as the homeless deduction have increased, see these changes on our SNAP Budget Worksheet. Our free [...]