The Delaware Division of Social Services will issue emergency benefits to eligible households Thursday, as part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 emergency.

Benefits will be issued as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and two other programs — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and General Assistance. SNAP emergency food benefits will be available on recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards Thursday. Eligible temporary and general assistance households will receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Thursday.

All households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

• SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size or a prorated initial benefit will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.
• SNAP households with a calculated emergency benefit amount of $95 or more will continue to receive the calculated emergency benefit amount to increase the household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum amount.

The emergency assistance for TANF and GA families will increase a household’s monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum amount for their household size.

Households that already receive the maximum temporary or general assistance benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in May are not eligible for this month’s emergency cash funds.

An estimated 58,266 households will receive the emergency SNAP benefits this month, while about 193 households will receive the emergency cash benefits. Approximately $11.5 million in emergency food assistance will be allocated, while around $25,490 in emergency cash benefits will be provided.