2-1-1 and Food Stamps

United Way of Connecticut’s 2-1-1 is a state-wide service for those in need, in need of food, shelter, information, programs... anything, really.

Leaders in the group say the economic distress calls are increasing with one of the biggest jumps being requests for help with food. 2-1-1 can point people to WIC services in their area or even DSS services like cash assistance and food stamps.

Since last year, there have been 54 percent more calls just for food stamps, a program now called SNAP. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; it’s designed to provide additional funds for households to purchase healthy foods.

The federal stimulus package passed by the Legislature earlier this year provides for additional SNAP benefits, increasing those benefits by 13.6 percent.

Applicants no longer need to visit a DSS regional office…the entire process can be completed over the phone, through the mail or online. Everything is done with an electronics benefits transfer card, meaning the person in need would simply get an EBT card, take it to the store and use that for their grocery purchases. This makes usage easy and gives the person a lower profile than years ago when the stamp method was used.

The amount of the benefits depends on the household income and expenses; the figure remains in place for the duration of the certification period - usually a year. The benefits also carry over from month to month, so an EBT card is very similar to having an electronic bank account for the snap benefits.

Although about 127,000 families in the state are enrolled in SNAP. There are several thousand more that are eligible. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, and anyone can call.