Connecticut begins distributing $300 grocery benefits to residents who lost SNAP eligibility
Connecticut began distributing one-time $300 grocery benefits Tuesday, Aug. 4, to some residents who lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility under new federal work rules. The benefit is not loaded onto an existing EBT card, and affected residents must contact the community action agency serving their area to request an eligibility review.
The state is using $8.5 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund for the program. The Department of Social Services arranged the distribution with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support from the Connecticut Association for Community Action.
Who qualifies for the $300 benefit
The benefit is limited to individuals who lost SNAP eligibility because of the federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWD, work-rule changes since Dec. 1, 2025, and who are no longer receiving SNAP.
Residents should look for a DSS notice stating that they did not meet the ABAWD requirements and reached the three-month SNAP benefit limit. Eligibility is confirmed when the resident requests the grocery benefit through a local community action agency.
The benefit is issued per eligible individual, not per household. A household could therefore receive more than one $300 benefit if multiple individuals meet the eligibility requirements. Losing SNAP eligibility because of ABAWD rules also does not necessarily end benefits for everyone in the household; other members may remain eligible.
How to request the grocery card
DSS says affected residents should contact the community action agency serving their location. The agencies are handling outreach, eligibility verification and card distribution. Residents should not wait for the money to appear on their regular EBT card.
The statewide contact path depends on where a resident lives. DSS directs people who lost SNAP because of the federal work-rule changes to reach out directly to their local community action agency.
As one local example, Community Renewal Team is working with DSS on the grocery-card program for residents in Hartford and Middlesex counties. It lists SNAP outreach numbers of 860-560-5765 for Hartford County and 860-347-4465, extension 227, for Middlesex County. Residents elsewhere should use the community action agency serving their area rather than assume those numbers apply statewide.
How the prepaid benefit works
The grocery benefit comes as a prepaid virtual Mastercard or Visa. It can be used at food retailers that accept standard credit cards, but it is intended for purchases that generally qualify under SNAP rules.
The card does not expire, according to the state. Any unused balance remains available until it is spent. Receiving the benefit does not affect a recipient’s eligibility for other assistance programs.
How this differs from regular SNAP
The $300 payment is a one-time, state-funded bridge. It is not a replacement for ongoing SNAP and is not an automatic deposit into a household’s EBT account.
Residents who remain eligible for SNAP should continue following DSS instructions for renewals, reporting changes and maintaining benefits. A household should also check whether other members continue to qualify even if one individual lost benefits under the ABAWD rules.
Where to get additional help
DSS directs residents who need food pantries, soup kitchens or mobile food assistance to 2-1-1 Connecticut and Connecticut Foodshare. The DSS Benefits Center can be reached at 855-626-6632 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Residents who received a notice about losing SNAP under the ABAWD rules should keep that notice available when contacting their local community action agency. The state’s Aug. 4 rollout announcement does not mean every potentially eligible person has already received a card; access is being handled through local agencies after eligibility is verified.
Sources
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