Beginning March 1, 2023, Cuyahoga County residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits will see a reduction in the total amount received each month, as the federal emergency allotment program ends in February. In March 2023, customers will receive their standard SNAP allotment only.
In December, the U.S. Congress passed the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a spending bill for the 2023 fiscal year which eliminated the Covid emergency allotment. Ohio has been issuing this emergency allotment since April 2020.
Currently, about $53 million in SNAP benefits are spent each month in Cuyahoga County. Cuyahoga Job and Family Services estimates a $23 million reduction in SNAP benefits county-wide when this change occurs. Approximately 212,000 residents will see their monthly amount return to pre-pandemic levels.
Families receiving SNAP benefits need to be made aware of this important change in order to avoid being surprised in March.
SNAP recipients who want to check their standard benefit amount can call the Ohio Direction Card Customer Service Center at 1-866-386-3071 or visit the Self-Service Portal at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.