Residents on SNAP Will Receive Sandy-Related Food Loss Benefits

Folks in Clinton and in scores of other Connecticut cities and towns who are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive storm-related food replacement benefits on Saturday, according to a media release from Gov. Dannel Malloy.

The benefits, an average of $62 a family, will automatically be issued via an electronic transfer to their SNAP card.

There are 639 Clinton residents who receive SNAP benefits according to End Hunger Connecticut.  If you click on the link, you can view a chart showing how many residents in towns throughout CT receive SNAP benefits.

The state’s application for $4.5 million in SNAP replacement benefits for residents in areas hit hardest by power outages and flooding resulting from Storm Sandy was approved in two stages this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, the press release said.

The additional benefit is being given to cover food loss due to power outages.

A total of 73,383 SNAP-enrolled households (over 130,000 people) will automatically receive 25% of their October benefit amount in electronic benefit transfer accounts this Saturday. 

SNAP benefits can be used only for federally-approved food items at supermarkets, grocery stores and farmers’ markets, according to Malloy’s office. Items include fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy, canned goods, etc.  Household cleaning products and other grocery store items such as cosmetics, cards, pet food, etc. are not eligible for SNAP purchase.

“This equates to replacement benefits ranging from $4 to over $300, depending on income and household size,” said Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby of the Department of Social Services, the administering agency for SNAP.  “The average replacement benefit is estimated at $62.”

Connecticut joins Rhode Island, New York, Maryland and Virginia in gaining federal approval to issue automatic, replacement benefits to eligible households in certain areas affected by the storm, the release read.