Changes to make it easier to access food assistance programs during COVID-19 are ending in May 2023. Contact your caseworker to see what this change means for applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and getting SNAP benefits. Check with your local food bank or pantry to see how summer meal sites for children, like those offering grab-and-go meals, might change in your neighborhood.
Last updated: May 23, 2023
You will continue to receive your SNAP benefits. But you may need to meet more requirements to receive SNAP if you are:
18-49, able to work, and not caring for a child or family member
a college student
Check with your caseworker to confirm which requirements you need to meet. You may need to be in school, in job training, or volunteering for at least 20 hours per week or working 80 hours per month on average to receive SNAP benefits. You may lose benefits if you do not meet the requirements for three months in a three-year period.
Check with your caseworker to confirm which requirements you need to meet. If you are in college full-time, you may lose SNAP benefits unless you are also working a minimum of 20 hours a week, have a disability, or are caring for a child or family member.
You may need to interview in person. During COVID-19, many states allowed SNAP phone interviews instead of in-person appointments. Be sure to ask about your options when your caseworker contacts you. It is also possible that wait times will be longer as states return to in-person interviews.
The Feeding America network can help you apply for SNAP. Our knowledgable application assistants will review your eligibility and help you understand the application process.
Ask the summer meal site host about how the program might change. Some sites may no longer be able to offer free meals and may close. Some sites may not be able to offer grab-and-go meals, and children might have to eat their food on-site. Some sites may remain the same.
Yes, if you are still eligible. Check with your state's SNAP agency for more specific information on Summer EBT and how to get the EBT card.
Phone and telehealth appointments and online shopping will likely still be available. Contact your local WIC office for more information.
You will still be able to access food through FDPIR. Reach out to your tribal or state agency for more info.
If you need food today
Your local food bank can help you find food today. They partner with food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs in your local community to give away free food.
Enter your zip code to find your nearest Feeding America member food bank. They'll share the locations and hours of nearby food distributions.
