October 20, 2025 SNAP Benefits Will Not Be Paid to Recipients in November Due to Federal Shutdown PA DHS announced that PA SNAP recipients will not receive benefits that were scheduled to be paid in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. As a result, more than 160,000 people in Allegheny County will not receive payments, of which more than 50,000 are children. Read more for county food agencies and resources. Learn More On its website, the state Department of Human Services (DHS) provided an update on October 17 that SNAP benefits cannot be paid in November as a result of the failure to pass a federal budget that caused the shutdown. Benefits will not be paid until the shutdown ends and funds are released to the state, according to the DHS. SNAP recipients will be notified when payments can resume. The department provided links to two resources for those in need of immediate food assistance – PA Navigate and Feeding Pennsylvania – or recommended calling 211. Those receiving SNAP benefits should continue to complete renewals and report changes to income, contact information, or the number of people living in the household. State offices and phone lines remain open and SNAP recipients can still visit and call state offices for help. Additionally, changes mandated by the federal government regarding SNAP benefits will also take effect on Monday, November 1. To keep or become eligible for benefits, people will have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours per week and report to the DHS that they are meeting these work requirements. Residents in the Pittsburgh region who are in need of immediate food assistance can access the following resources: Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 PA Navigate Feeding Pennsylvania Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh United Way helpline East End Cooperative Ministry Just Harvest Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc. Resources in neighboring counties include: Indiana County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Indiana) Westmoreland Food Bank (Westmoreland) Westmoreland County food assistance (Westmoreland) Food Helpers of Washington County (Washington) Families Matter Food Pantry (Beaver) Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: Beaver Falls (Beaver) Butler County Food Cupboards (Butler) The Lighthouse Foundation (Butler) Lawrence County Assistance Office (Lawrence) Fayette County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Fayette) Corner Cupboard Foodbank (Greene) Armstrong County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Armstrong) Those seeking assistance while SNAP benefits are not being paid out should also view lists of Pittsburgh food resources and mutual aid distribution as well as learn about the Pittsburgh Police’s Thanksgiving dinner distribution.
September 4, 2025 SNAP Recipients Must Take Action to Ensure They Don’t Lose Benefits in December Recipients that fail to take action to secure their SNAP benefits could lose them in December following federal changes to the benefits that have recently taken effect. Learn More As of Sept. 1, most adults on SNAP are required to work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption. People who do not properly document that they meet these conditions can only receive three months of benefits over a three-year period, meaning they would run out in December. SNAP recipients must take the following actions: Complete the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) screening form checklist that was mailed to recipients by the DHS. The checklist can also be found online. If health limits their work, have a doctor or therapist sign a medical exemption form. Return the screening form and proof to the County Assistance Office, which is operated at the state level by the DHS. Details about who needs to take action and when can be found on the DHS’ website. For Providers To ensure that people in your network are aware of these updates, share this flyer from the Housing Stabilization Center that summarizes key action items and includes quick reference phone numbers.
December 2, 2024 Just Harvest: Barriers to Benefits Just Harvest will release and present its new report on SNAP benefits on Dec. 5 in Pittsburgh. Learn More Just Harvest will present “Barriers to Benefits: The New State of SNAP Access in Pennsylvania” to Dr. Val Arkoosh, the state’s secretary of Human Services, and community partners. The report explores various barriers to SNAP, such as: Challenges receiving paperwork on time Difficulty communicating with the department Issues navigating the program’s requirements The event will center the experience of SNAP recipients as Just Harvest calls for improvements to state policies and practices. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 5 at CoLab18, located at 100 South Commons, Suite 100, in Pittsburgh. Those interested in attending should RSVP now.
April 1, 2024 DHS Warns of Potential SNAP Scam The state Department of Human Services (DHS) is warning state residents of a potential scam targeting individuals who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Learn More The SNAP benefits scam involves a social media post directing individuals to an offer for emergency SNAP benefits. It provides a link to a website, where it obtains their personal information, said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. The scam, primarily found on Facebook, includes a link to a Google form, beginning with a “sites.google.com” address. It implies that SNAP recipients may be eligible for $750 in emergency benefits if they fill out personal payment information. The post also states that there is an application deadline. However, SNAP benefits never include such a deadline. “DHS will never ask for personal information on Facebook, on a Google site, in an unsolicited email, text message, or phone call,” Arkoosh said in a news release. “If someone is claiming to be from or affiliated with the department and they are asking you for your personal information, it is a scam.” DHS will send informational texts and phone calls to recipients of SNAP, Medicaid, and other benefits from the number 1-833-648-1964. However, these messages and calls will not include: Details from a person’s benefits, such as the amount of SNAP they are authorized to receive A request for specific personal information Links to unofficial sites; most DHS texts will direct people to dhs.pa.gov, COMPASS, or a site ending in .gov or .org. Reporting Scams Those who have encountered scams of this nature should call the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-347-8477 (TIPS). Reports can also be made to the Office of the State Inspector General’s. Residents can also contact the Public Assistance Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582. Pennsylvanians with questions about whether a call, text, or other communication is legitimate should contact DHS’s Office of Income Maintenance. Applications for Public Assistance Applications for public assistance programs can be securely submitted online at www.dhs.pa.gov/compass. On-site County Assistance Office (CAO) services are available if clients cannot access online services or need assistance that cannot be accessed through the COMPASS website, the MyCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling 1-877-395-8930.
October 23, 2023 SNAP Benefit Amount Increases October 2023 The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income and benefit limits increased on October 1, 2023. Learn More The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) annually evaluates SNAP’s income eligibility standards, the maximum thrifty food plan, and the minimum benefit amount. These mass grant changes will benefit all SNAP recipients; SNAP benefit levels may increase as a result of these updates, and no one will experience a decrease in benefits. Income Limits Here are the SNAP income limits beginning October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024: Household Size/Maximum Gross Monthly Income 1 /$2,430 2/$3,288 3/$4,144 4/$5,000 5 /$5,858 6/$6,714 7/$7,570 8 /$8,428 9 /$9,286 10 /$10,144 Each additional member /+$858 Maximum SNAP Benefits There is no change to the minimum benefit this year; the minimum benefit remains $23 through September 30, 2024. The Maximum Thrifty Food Plan is the maximum amount of SNAP benefits a household can receive. Below are the changes to the Maximum Thrifty Food Plan through September 30, 2024: Household Size/Maximum Thrifty Food Plan 1 /$291 2 /$535 3 /$766 4 /$973 5 /$1,155 6 /$1,386 7 /$1,532 8 /$1,751 9 /$1,970 10 /$2,189 Each Additional Member /$219 Apply for SNAP Online: Apply for or renew SNAP benefits online by using COMPASS. In-person: File an application at your county assistance office. Download an application, fill it out, and return it to your county assistance office: Application for cash assistance, SNAP, and Medical Assistance benefits (English version) Solicitud para recibir beneficios (Spanish version)
March 22, 2023 Resources for Changes to SNAP Benefits Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Acting Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Val Arkoosh are reminding Pennsylvanians of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are taking effect this month. SNAP Emergency Allotments—which were usually paid in the second half of each month—ended after February due to changes by the federal government. In his 2023-24 budget, the governor proposed an increase to the minimum SNAP benefit for seniors and people with disabilities. The budget proposal also seeks to continue universal school breakfasts, an investment in children’s ability to learn and access to food for working families in all communities. To address current needs, he is encouraging struggling families to utilize food assistance resources. Proposed Increases to SNAP The Governor’s proposed budget would increase the minimum monthly SNAP benefit for seniors and people with disabilities to $35 each month, as well as provide additional support as federal pandemic SNAP benefits end. Additionally, it would continue universal free breakfast for all Pennsylvania students. Food Assistance Resources The following resources are available to families in need of food assistance: PA211: Call 211 or visit www.pa211.org to connect with various local food resources. Feeding Pennsylvania: Visit www.feedingpa.org to find local food banks and other food assistance programs. DHS and PDA: Visit www.dhs.pa.gov/ending-hunger and www.agriculture.pa.gov/food_security for information on assistance programs and other resources. SNAP-eligible senior citizens can benefit from the Senior Food Box Program, which provides additional shelf-stable groceries. Learn more about these programs from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Additionally, SNAP recipients who are pregnant or have kids younger than age five may be able to get help buying food from PA WIC. Call 1-800-WIC-WINS to learn more or apply online at www.pawic.com. Find additional resources at www.dhs.pa.gov/SNAPCares. Learn More Though SNAP benefits are being reduced, they are not being eliminated. Anybody who already receives SNAP should reach out to DHS and update their information to ensure they are receiving their maximum SNAP benefit. Additionally, anybody struggling to afford food or who may need financial assistance should reach out to DHS and apply for SNAP. To learn more, visit the Official Pennsylvania website. Additional Information and Resources ACDHS Recommendations for End of Public Health Emergency UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation Offering Medical Grants for Children Allegheny County Offering Food Resources Shapiro Administration Urges CHIP Recipients To Update Contact Information SNAP Emergency Allotment Ending After February 2023
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.
