News

May 21, 2024

Allegheny GO to Offer Discounted Fare Rates for SNAP Recipients

Starting in June, Allegheny County residents who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be eligible for discounted Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) fares.

Learn More

Allegheny GO will offer a 50% discounted fare for working-age Allegheny County residents who benefit from SNAP and their children. More than 130,000 county residents will be eligible to participate. Enrollment is scheduled to begin on June 3.

To be eligible in the program, participants must:

  • Currently reside in Allegheny County
  • Be between the ages of 12 and 64
  • Have been receiving SNAP benefits for three months

Individuals who currently receive a fare discount through other programs are not eligible to participate. All members of a SNAP household between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible for the discount. All children ages five and younger always ride PRT for free.

The county conducted a discounted fares pilot to determine the future design of the program. It has since published the results of the program.

Due to its success, the county decided to make the program a permanent offering. Anyone who was part of the pilot will be contacted on how to join the program.

How to Sign Up

Applicants should download Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Ready2Ride app from the Apple App Store or Google Play before applying for the program on the Allegheny GO website.

Initially, Allegheny GO will be available to applicants with smartphones. It will be available on PRT’s next-generation smartcard when it launches next year.

Riders with questions about downloading Ready2Ride or the application process should call 412-442-2000. Families can also visit PRT’s website to learn more about existing discount programs for children.

News

January 20, 2023

SNAP Emergency Allotment Ending After February 2023

Pennsylvania Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will receive their last extra monthly emergency payment in February 2023.

(This article was updated on January 20, 2022 to reflect the ending date of the emergency allotment).

About

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP recipients have been receiving extra monthly emergency allotments since April 2020.

Right now, SNAP benefits are paid in two payments during the month: regular SNAP benefit is paid in the first half of the month and the extra payment (known as an Emergency Allotment) is paid in the second half of the month.

On December 23, 2022 Congress passed budget legislation that – among many other things – will end SNAP Emergency Allotments after February 2023. This means that starting in March 2023, recipients will only receive one regular SNAP payment.

Additional food assistance resources are available on the PA Department of Human Services website.

Questions?

This Just Harvest flyer explains more about the change and how to ensure you get as much SNAP as you can now that Emergency Allotments are ending.

Allegheny County residents who have questions about their SNAP benefits, want to check eligibility, or need help applying, can reach out to Just Harvest for assistance. Call 412-431-8960 (option 3) and leave a name, contact information, and the best time to reach out Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or fill out the form on the Just Harvest website.