Connecticut Residents Leave $300 Grocery Cards on the Table

More than 20,000 Connecticut residents eligible for $300 grocery gift cards have not yet claimed the benefit, according to the state Department of Social Services. The department released the count last week, more than two months after the program was announced.

The state allocated $8.5 million to create the aid package for residents who lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under new federal work requirements. To qualify, an individual must have lost SNAP eligibility due to federal mandates enacted after Dec. 1, 2025, and must no longer be receiving those benefits.

Each eligible person receives a $300 card, regardless of household size. The state partnered with nine Community Action Agencies to distribute the cards across all 169 municipalities in Connecticut. Residents do not need an appointment or a smartphone to participate. They can walk into a participating agency for an identity check and receive a physical card immediately, DSS spokesperson Christine Stuart said.

The card functions like a prepaid Visa or Mastercard and works at food retailers that accept standard credit cards. It is intended for food purchases that qualify under SNAP rules. The card does not expire, and any unused balance remains on it until spent. The state and its partners are establishing procedures to prevent duplicate payments.

DSS developed the program after gathering feedback from clients and community partners over the previous month and a half. Stuart said the department worked with agencies to simplify the process and increase direct outreach. She described it as a “new program without precedent in the state,” adding that participation is difficult to predict.

DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said the card would not reverse the effects of the federal changes, but called it “real, immediate help.” She said community action agency partners would also help recipients work toward regaining SNAP eligibility.