COLUMBIA, S.C. — Federally-approved emergency allotments (supplement payments) to South Carolina households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will end on January 31, 2023, according to South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS). That date has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services as the state's 'transition' month to bring all SNAP households back to receiving their regular monthly benefit amount.
The assignment of emergency SNAP allotments had been in place since March 2020 when all authorized households were brought up to the maximum benefit allotment, based on household size.
On Jan. 31, a household's regular SNAP benefit will not change as a result of the end of the emergency allotment ending. DSS will continue to send eligible SNAP recipients their monthly benefit on a normal schedule at the regular allotment amount. For example:
- 2-person SNAP household whose regular SNAP allotment is $250 a month*.
- Prior to February 1, 2023, the household was eligible to receive an additional $266 in emergency allotments which brought them up to the maximum benefit amount for a two-person household which is$516.
- Effective February 1st, this SNAP household will receive $250 a month.
Beginning January 3, 2023, SNAP recipients will be able to view their regular monthly SNAP benefit amount and their emergency allotment amount online, at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov/#/eai/eaiinquiry
According to DSS, more than 308,000 households, representing more than 626,000 clients, are currently receiving SNAP in South Carolina as of November 2022.
(*SNAP allotment amounts vary depending on household size, income, countable household expenses, and other federal eligibility requirements.)