Multi-lingual SNAP Navigators at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey are dedicated to ensuring that people in New Jersey get the food assistance they need. We offer free in-person or virtual SNAP application assistance. We will also talk to you about utilities assistance, free school lunches, and other assistance available to you.
Our Community Connections programs are possible due to support from ACME Markets Foundation and The Tepper Foundation.
Clients must have at least five years of residency in the United States to qualify for SNAP. If undocumented and with children who are American citizens, clients can apply for benefits on their behalf.
In March 2020, SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) increased to help neighbors meet emergency needs during the pandemic. This was known as Emergency Allotments (EA) and has continued for nearly three years. As of March 1, 2023, EA will no longer be provided to SNAP households. All SNAP benefits will return to their regular, pre-COVID benefit amounts. These additional emergency benefits have been in effect since March 2020. The last SNAP emergency allotment will be issued to households in February.
It is estimated that households will see an average decrease of about $82 per person per month once the SNAP EA ends. In New Jersey, the minimum monthly SNAP benefit is $95, meaning no SNAP household will receive less than $95 per month in benefit. The New Jersey Department of Human Services has distributed more than $2 billion in additional SNAP benefits since March 2020. Many New Jerseyans greatly benefited from EA and were able to go grocery shopping with these extra dollars. With the cost of food and other necessities continuing to rise, this will have a devastating impact on families and seniors who struggle to put food on the table. All SNAP households will receive a letter in the mail in February notifying them of these changes and their new benefit amount.
