In the next round of funding to support low-income New York families during a cost-of-living crisis, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a food assistance fund for children across the state.
Food for 1.5 Million Households
$200 million in food assistance will be dispersed to more than 1.5 million children living in low-income households, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday.
$120 Per Child
Families could receive as much as $120 per child through Summer EBT benefits to help bolster food security and the purchasing of healthy foods.
Summer Holiday Supplement
The payments have been made during the summer months, as this is a period when children from low-income households won’t have access to free school meals.
“Essential” for Children’s Health
“Having access to healthy, nutritious food is essential for children’s health and well-being,” Hochul’s statement reads. “As New York continues putting money back in the pockets of working families, we’ve already begun sending food assistance to more than 1.5 million kids.”
Notifications via Email
While the announcement has only now been made public, most families have already been notified of the funding via mail.
Those Who Are Eligible
Eligible families who use SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Medicaid are automatically eligible and should receive the funding without needing to apply.
Other Eligible Households
Families who do not use these services but have children who are part of the National School Lunch Program and qualify for free or discounted school meals are also eligible for the Summer EBT, however, they will need to fill in applications.
Income Threshold Required
These families must also be able to demonstrate a household income equivalent to or below 185% of the federal poverty level, according to the official Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) application website.
Authorized SNAP Usage Only
The Summer EBT can be used anywhere that SNAP benefits apply, such as authorized grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retailers. An EBT card will be issued for each individual child, rather than one per family.
Valid for 122 Days
Summer EBT funds will remain in accounts and on the EBT cards for 122 days following their issuance. The program encourages families to use the funds as early as possible, as unused funds will be removed after this time period.
September Deadline
The governor and wider state government are urging these families to fill in an application to receive funding. The deadline for applications is September 3.
Speaking to the Public
Gov. Hochul has also pressed the general public to notify friends and family who might be eligible but are not yet aware of the program, in a bid to help spread the word.
“Help Us Get the Message Out”
“There are still hundreds of thousands of kids who are eligible, and their parents have not taken advantage of [the funding],” Hochul stressed. “Please help us get that message out. Help our families get this money because they need it.”
Cost-of-Living Crisis
The $200 million food grant is a direct response to the soaring cost of living in the US, particularly the cost of food.
Fifth Most Expensive State
New York is currently the fifth most expensive state to live in terms of cost of living, according to the World Population Review Index, something that the governor acknowledged in her statement.
“No Child Should Go Hungry”
“No child should ever, ever, go hungry because the cost of living was just too damn high for their parents and their families,” she said.
Empire State Child Tax Credit
These EBT benefits are being provided in addition to the $350 million worth of Empire State Child Tax Credit checks first issued earlier this month.
More Support for Struggling Families
In July Gov. Hochul announced the Tax Credit as another tactic for supporting families through the cost of living crisis, confirming that approximately one million low and moderate-income families in the state would receive a $330 supplement per child.
Income Thresholds
The payment applied to married couples earning less than $110,000 combined, and single-parent families with income below $55,000.
Help for Working Parents
“My team is making sure these supplemental payments reach every eligible New Yorker,” Hochul said in an announcement. “And I’m going to keep working every day to address the cost of living for working parents across our state.”
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