Temporary Local Benefit – Give SNAP A Raise Termination Update – September 2024
DC Council approved the Temporary Local Benefit (TLB), also known as Give SNAP a Raise (GSAR), which is up to 10% of the household’s federal maximum monthly allotment. DHS issued the benefit increase between March and September 2024 for eligible households. DHS will issue the last Temporary Local Benefit (TLB) benefit in September.
DHS will send a Mass Change Notice to all eligible SNAP households on September 20, 2024. Customers who have applied for food assistance in September and been approved for benefits will receive a one-time temporary local benefit in the month of September. DHS is also notifying customers via District Direct’s push notifications, robocalls, the Public Benefits Call Center IVR, and social media platforms. No further action is needed from the customers.
Although this was designed as a temporary benefit, when it sunsets, it will nonetheless have an adverse impact on the resources a family has each month. Each month, $3.5M in TLBs are distributed.
How much will each household receive?
Each household already receives a set amount each month based on the size of their SNAP household, with higher amounts provided for larger households. The new change will increase the amount you already receive by 10% of your household’s federal maximum. Because the total funding is capped, and the SNAP caseload fluctuates, it may be reduced in September if funds run short. Our goal is to maximize the use of the identified funds for District residents.
|
Household Size |
Maximum Monthly Allotment (MMA) |
Temporary Local Benefit (TLB) |
|
1 |
$291 |
$29 |
|
2 |
$535 |
$53 |
|
3 |
$766 |
$76 |
|
4 |
$973 |
$97 |
|
5 |
$1,155 |
$115 |
|
6 |
$1,386 |
$138 |
|
7 |
$1,532 |
$153 |
|
8 |
$1,751 |
$175 |
What happens in October 2024?
- The benefit is available through the end of Fiscal Year 2024 (September 2024).
- In October 2024, all households will return to receiving their regular SNAP allotment, without this new temporary benefit.
- The DC Department of Human Services will send all households a notice in September to remind them of this.
Using the added benefit
The added benefit does not change the rules for SNAP. The program will continue operating normally.
See what can be purchased with SNAP and where it can be used here - SNAP Benefits | dhs (dc.gov).