The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) has changed its eligibility rules effective October 1, expanding its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Department of Social Services said help is on the way for approximately 44,000 more Connecticut residents through an expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“As it turns out, this is the only step the state can take to help people in those situations to be able, as I said before, to provide themselves and their families with healthy, nutritious, affordable food,” said Dan Giacomi, Administration Manager from the Connecticut DSS program.
The program, also known as SNAP, helps supplement Connecticut families living below the poverty line.
Previously, the program was available to those with a gross monthly income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, but effective October 1, residents with a gross monthly income at or below 200% will now be eligible for receive assistance.
“SNAP is the first line of defense against food insecurity. For every meal we can provide here at a food bank, SNAP can provide 10 meals,” said FoodShare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski.
The new policy also increases monthly food benefits by an average of 12.46%, according to DSS, but some question how the increased assistance will be funded.
According to DSS, funding for this expanded coverage comes from resources the federal government already provides to areas the state has not previously explored.
Currently, more than 222,000 households are enrolled in SNAP. For more information on how to enroll, Click here.
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