SNAP Benefit Changes
15% Benefit Increase
From January 2021 to September 2021, all SNAP recipients will receive a 15% benefit increase. For example, a family of three that received $535 a month will receive a payment of $81. This 15% SNAP benefit amount will be added as a supplement to your Families First card, in addition to your regular monthly amount.
These extra SNAP benefits amounts will be added as a supplement to your Families First card, in addition to your regular monthly amount.
| People in Household | Regular Max Monthly Benefit October 1, 2020–September 30, 2021 | Max Monthly Benefit 15% Increase through September 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $204 | $234 | ||
| 2 | $374 | $430 | ||
| 3 | $535 | $616 | ||
| 4 | $680 | $782 | ||
| 5 | $807 | $929 | ||
| 6 | $969 | $1,114 | ||
| 7 | $1,071 | $1,232 | ||
| 8 | $1,224 | $1,408 | ||
| Each additional person | +$153 | +$176 |
Max Allotment
If you do not receive the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount for your household size, you may receive the maximum monthly benefit during the ongoing COIVD-19 public health state of emergency.
For the month of April, the supplement is pending federal approval. You still received the 15% benefit increase on your card, as scheduled. We expect the additional benefits will be added to your SNAP card once approved in the coming days. In the meantime, you can check your benefits by calling 1-800-997-3333 or online at www.NJFamiliesFirst.com
Remember, this is an extra SNAP benefit being made available to help you buy food in this public health crisis.
If you want to check your balance before you go to the grocery store, please visit www.NJFamiliesFirst.com where you can view your current card balance and transaction history, or at some ATMs. You also can call customer service at 1-800-997-3333, however, they may be experiencing higher call volumes, so please be patient. Please do not check your balance at the grocery store where cashiers may be very busy.
Online Grocery Shopping
New Jerseyans enrolled in SNAP may use their Families First EBT card to purchase eligible SNAP food items at participating stores online. For more information about ordering online and to find participating stores in your area, visit the NJ SNAP Using Your Benefits page.
Extra Benefits for Children
Special Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefits provided to children who normally receive free or reduced-price school meals. For the 2019-2020 school year, benefits have been sent to eligible families. Families received up to $416.10 for each eligible student for nutritional support during the time that schools moved to remote learning during the pandemic.
For the 2020-2021 school year, P-EBT benefits in the amount of $99.62 per eligible child were issued for the month of September for students receiving free- or reduced-price school meals and are attending schools with a remote learning schedule of at least 5 consecutive days. (This benefit is not available for students whose school are conducting classes in person or a hybrid of in-person and remote that don't meet that definition.)
No application is necessary. The majority of P-EBT eligible families participating in SNAP will received their benefit on their household's existing Families First. All other P-EBT eligible households were mailed a P-EBT card. More information is available on the P-EBT page.