February 27, 2023. The extra Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Benefits for COVID-19 will end in February, 2023. Starting in March, you will get your regular monthly benefits, without the additional emergency allotments.
How will my benefits change?
Those eligible for FNS have been receiving at least $95 extra per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in March, households will get their regular monthly benefits without the “emergency allotments.”
How can I make sure I’m getting my full benefits?
You can check your monthly food stamp benefits by visiting www.ebtedge.com and clicking on “More Information” under EBT Cardholder OR by calling the EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.
If you experienced any of these changes recently, your food stamp benefits could be increased:
- Income – lost hours at work or had a pay cut
- Shelter – increase in rent, mortgage, homeowner’s insurance, or property taxes
- Dependent care – paying for more child care or care of a disabled adult
- Medical expenses – Someone in the household age 60 or older or disabled has medical costs over $35/month that are new or have never been reported
If you need to report any of these changes, you should visit or call your local Department of Social Services.
What other food resources are available?
- WIC: if you have a child under 5 and/or you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more and complete a WIC referral online.
- North Carolina Farmers Markets: some markets offer the Double Bucks or Double Dollars program. For each dollar a SNAP user withdraws from their account to spend at the market, they will be given a token worth an additional dollar.
- P-EBT: families with eligible children can receive benefits for days when they had COVID-related absences from school.
- Other resources: visit nc211.org and search for “food” on the homepage OR visit https://nc211.org/category/food/ to learn more about other programs and services in North Carolina.
Other things to know
- You can keep food stamp benefits on your EBT card as long as you want, as long as you use the card once every 9 months.
- If you need legal assistance, you can apply for help at Legal Aid of North Carolina by calling 1-866-219-5262
- It is important to make sure your address is current. You may miss important updates if your local DSS does not have your current address.
SOURCES: NDHHS, Legal Aid of North Carolina
