20,000 Connecticut residents still holding $300 grocery cards
State data shows low uptake for the aid program launched to offset federal SNAP work requirement cuts.
By Nia Foster ·
More than 20,000 Connecticut residents eligible for a $300 grocery gift card have not yet claimed the benefit, according to state Department of Social Services figures released last week. The program was announced more than two months ago, yet a large portion of the targeted population remains unenrolled.
The state allocated $8.5 million to fund the initiative. The program specifically targets individuals who lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to new federal work requirements implemented since December 1, 2025. To qualify, applicants must no longer be receiving SNAP. Each eligible person receives a flat $300 benefit, regardless of household size.
Residents can access the cards through nine Community Action Agencies operating across the state. These agencies cover all 169 Connecticut municipalities. Applicants do not need an appointment or a smartphone to participate. After passing an identity check, DSS spokesperson Christine Stuart said eligible residents receive a physical card immediately.
The card functions as a prepaid Visa or Mastercard. It works at food retailers that accept standard credit cards and is restricted to food purchases that qualify under SNAP rules. The card does not have an expiration date, and any remaining balance stays on it until spent. The state and its partners are currently establishing procedures to prevent duplicate payments.
DSS developed the program after gathering feedback from clients and community partners over the preceding month and a half. Stuart described the effort as a new program without precedent in the state. She noted that participation levels are difficult to predict. The department worked with local agencies to simplify the application process and increase direct outreach.
DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves stated that the card would not reverse the effects of the federal changes. She characterized the aid as real, immediate help. Community action agency partners will also assist recipients in working toward regaining their SNAP eligibility.
Further information is available through the CT Project SNAP Grocery Card page and DSS’ pages on SNAP and food assistance.
Source: New Canaan Advertiser (NCA)
