SNAP Emergency Allotments

Starting March 1st, 2023, District of Columbia households receiving SNAP benefits will no longer receive additional pandemic-related SNAP payments, known as Emergency Allotments or EAs. Emergency Allotments were a temporary additional benefit made to households beginning in March 2020 to help households address their food needs during the pandemic. However, these payments will end after the February 28, 2023 issuances due to a federal law. While these additional payments are ending, this will have NO effect on your existing SNAP benefit amounts.  

Emergency Allotments were payments of at least $95 per month, with some households seeing increases of $250 per month or more. They were issued to over 90,000 District households, providing over $14 million in extra food benefits each month. Nationally, EAs kept 4.2 million people out of poverty, reducing poverty by 4.7% and reducing child poverty by 14%.  

Notices and robocalls will go out to all eligible SNAP households advising them that beginning in March 2023, SNAP Emergency Allotments will NO LONGER be included in their monthly SNAP benefit issuances.  

To check your benefit amount and balance, make changes to your account, or complete your mid-certification or recertification, you can visit District Direct online or on the District Direct phone application, visit your nearest ESA Service Center, or contact D.C. Hunger Solutions at (202) 640-1088. 

For more information about the end of Emergency Allotments, additional food resources, and information about maximizing your deductions and benefits, visit https://dhs.dc.gov/page/esa-public-benefit-alerts-, or call D.C. Hunger Solutions at (202) 640-1088.