As we previously reported, in late December 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was signed into law, funding the government through next September. One of the most impactful provisions in this bill for our work at the Coalition is the premature ending of Emergency Allotments (EAs), the extra SNAP payments that people receive in the second half of the month. The final EA payment will be distributed in February 2023, and starting in March, families will only receive their regular SNAP payment in the first half of the month.
Before EAs end, we need your help getting the word out that this change is coming. We have a flyer explaining this change, which has now been translated into Spanish. Please share this information widely throughout your communities!
EAs Have Been a Lifeline to Families Throughout the Pandemic
The loss of EAs will put a strain on SNAP participants. Propel, the maker of the Providers app (formerly Fresh EBT), which allows SNAP participants to easily check their benefits and transactions, recently released a new report, 2022: A Year of Change and Challenge. This report, based on their monthly user surveys, underscores the importance of EAs. While Pennsylvania has continued to distribute EAs throughout the pandemic, some states chose to end this benefit early. The report shows that users in states that prematurely ended EAs have higher self-reported rates of skipping meals, eating less, relying on others for meals, or visiting a food pantry. EAs have been a significant nutrition boost to families throughout the pandemic, and the premature ending of them is a disappointing policy choice that will have significant impacts on food insecurity.
For a refresher on the other provisions in the Appropriations Act, check out our last blog post.
