New Yorkers Receiving SNAP and Temporary Assistance Are Urged to Plan Ahead This Weekend as Benefits Will Be Unavailable for a Short Period
All efforts being made to minimize impact to recipients
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance recipients will not have access to benefits from midnight to no later than 12 noon on Sunday, Sept. 21 due to a a change in the operator of the EBT system, according to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
During this time, SNAP recipients will not be able to make food purchases with their SNAP benefits using the EBT cards, and Temporary Assistance recipients will not be able to use their EBT cards to make purchases or withdraw cash, OTDA said in a press release issued this morning. There will be no impact on Medicaid recipients’ ability to use their cards to access medical benefits, the agency said.
After the conversion to the new contractor is complete, current EBT cards will continue to work as usual, according to ODTA. There is no need for cardholders to replace their cards.
OTDA said it is making efforts to assure that the vendors meet the noontime goal to minimize the impact on all recipients and in particular the Jewish community as they prepare for Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown on Wednesday.
OTDA said it has been working closely with local leaders and advocates for the past several months to ensure that as many people as possible in the affected communities are aware of the EBT system downtime. All EBT cardholders were notified by letter over the summer and were encouraged to plan ahead for the system downtime, the agency said.
New Yorkers who receive cash public assistance benefits may want to prepare for the downtime by withdrawing available benefits in advance of Sept. 21 from their cash public assistance accounts using their EBT cards.
“Thousands of New Yorkers depend on these vital services to help support their families. That is why I have directed OTDA staff to expedite the EBT system change. I urge all recipients of these important benefits to do their shopping and make cash withdrawals now, so they will not be inconvenienced during the short switch-over,” OTDA Commissioner Kristin Proud said in the press release.
Sept. 21 was selected because EBT historical transition data shows that the third weekend of the month has the lightest transaction volume, the agency said. The transition cannot happen earlier in the month when SNAP benefits are being posted to accounts for the new monthly cycle.
The EBT contract conversion is required in accordance with state finance law procurement rules because the contract with the existing vendor is expiring and no further contract extensions are available. OTDA engaged in a competitive procurement process to retain a new vendor.
While the system is down on Sunday, the EBT cardholder helpline will not be available. Call center agents will be available to answer calls placed to the OTDA hotline (1-800-342-3009) from 9 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 20 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, including during the overnight hours.
Once the conversion is complete and cards can be used again, OTDA will post messages saying the system is working again. Cardholders can check the OTDA hotline (1-800-342-3009), the ODTA website, the myBenefits website and the agency’s Facebook page and Twitter account.
