CT SNAP Recipients To Receive Full November Benefits, Gov. Ned Lamont Says

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday that all eligible Connecticut households that receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have their full benefit amounts for the month of November transferred onto their EBT cards within the next several days.

SNAP, formerly called food stamps, helps Connecticut residents buy groceries with an EBT Card. Those needing assistance with paying for food can apply. About 360,000 Connecticut residents receive SNAP benefits.

A federal court order Thursday directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide full benefits for the month of November. As of today, the USDA has not yet complied, however Lamont said he took action and authorized the use of state funding to fill this lapse in federal funding should the USDA not follow through on this court order.

Connecticut’s EBT vendor says it will be able to transfer funding onto recipients’ EBT cards within 48 hours of those funds being made available to the vendor. The transfer of funding to the vendor is imminent.

“I’m relieved to share that families will receive their full benefits for the month of November and can plan their grocery shopping accordingly,” Lamont said in a statement. “Families in need of food assistance should never have been used as political pawns due to Washington’s dysfunction, and the federal administration’s attempts to prevent families from accessing this funding has just been cruel. I am extremely appreciative of all the community partners and generous people of Connecticut who’ve rallied over these last few days to ensure that nobody in our state goes hungry.”

“We are relieved to share this good news with Connecticut families,” DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said in a statement. “Our team has been working around the clock to ensure we could provide these benefits as quickly as possible. Families can soon expect to see their full November benefits, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this time.”

SNAP recipients do not need to take any action. Benefits will automatically be loaded onto EBT cards and will be available for use at grocery stores and other authorized retailers throughout Connecticut.

To check the balance amounts on EBT cards, visit MyDSS.ct.gov or call 1-888-328-2666.