Press releases
08/19/2022
Governor Lamont Announces 15,000 Low-Income Households With Children Will Receive Special Back-to-School Benefit Sunday, COVID-19 Relief
Eligible families will automatically receive a payment of $257.87 per child on August 21
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Social Services will provide a special COVID-19 relief benefit of $257.87 per child this weekend to more than 15,000 low-income individuals . Connecticut homes on behalf of 27,000 children.
Known as the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF), this special benefit comes from a $7 million federal grant that the Connecticut Department of Social Services received from the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Eligible households include those with children who received benefits through the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program during May 2022, or who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; formerly known as stamps of food) and did not have accounting income during that same month. These PEAF benefits will be automatically sent to eligible households on Sunday, August 21, 2022. Most payments will be delivered to recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Those currently receiving SNAP or TFA benefits by direct deposit will have their PEAF benefits transferred to their bank accounts.
The Department of Social Services this week sent letters to recipients notifying them that they will receive this special and unique benefit.
Governor Lamont explained that his administration is timing the release of these special benefits to coincide with the back-to-school shopping season and the start of Connecticut Sales Tax Free Weekwhich runs from August 21 to 27, 2022. During this sales tax holiday week, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales and use tax.
“Connecticut is the most family-friendly state in the country, and this unique special benefit puts money back into the pockets of families who have been struggling to make ends meet.” Governor Lamont said. “In the coming months, many of these families will also receive payments from Connecticut’s newly enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit, which is one of the most effective programs for lifting workers out of poverty. These special PEAF benefits are another example of how the American Rescue Plan Act is supporting our country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and I thank President Biden and Congress for their actions to get this funding to those who need it need”.
“These payments, made possible because of the American Rescue Plan, could not come at a better time for families,” Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman John Larson, Congressman Joe Courtney, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Congressman Jim Himes said in a joint statement.. “Back-to-school shopping is always expensive, and with the rising cost of food, gas and other essentials, Connecticut families are feeling the squeeze. We’re pleased to see that the funding we fought for in Congress it is given to the people who need it the most.”
“We are pleased to offer our SNAP and TFA families this unique cash benefit in time for back-to-school shopping and Connecticut Tax Free Shopping Week,” Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford said.
These special PEAF benefits are separate from the Connecticut Child Tax Credit 2022, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Tax Services and offers taxpayers a state tax credit of up to $250 per child for up to three children. Eligible taxpayers who have applied for this rebate will begin receiving these payments in the coming days. The application period for this program closed at the end of July.
Twitter: @GovNedLamont
Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont