Vermont Prepares for Federal Changes to 3SquaresVT Program

Waterbury, VT - The Department for Children and Families (DCF) is making federally required changes to 3SquaresVT, Vermont's name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These changes are required by federal law (H.R.1). They begin taking effect October 1. Households began receiving notices in September.

Most 3SquaresVT households will see an increase or no change at all:

Most of Vermont's 38,755 households will see their monthly benefit go up slightly or stay the same. More than 34,000 households (over 90%) will see an average increase of $5 per month. This is part of the regular annual updates to the program.

A smaller number - about 2,600 households -- will see an average decrease of $108 per month. A very limited number of 36 households will no longer qualify for SNAP benefits because of changes to how utility costs are counted under the Federal rules. If you are one of the households negatively affected, DCF encourages you to contact the Economic Services Division (ESD). Staff can review cases to see if any corrections or exemptions apply.

The current changes are part of the standard annual October 1 update to 3SquaresVT benefits, completed on September 6. Each year, benefit amounts are updated to match federal standards. This year's update also included new federal rules about how household expenses, such as utility costs, can be counted. Notices about the changes began mailing the week of September 8. Because mailing takes several days, not all households received their notices at the same time.

What comes next:

• Between September 9 and 17, DCF will manually review cases with non-U.S. citizen household members. Federal law requires citizenship and immigration documentation to be verified, and eligibility to be updated. Households that lose eligibility will get notices in the mail before their benefits end on October 1, 2025.

• On September 15, DCF will make federal changes to work requirements in the eligibility system. Households affected by these rules will get notices by mail in late September. The notices will explain the new rules and options for exemptions.

What this means for Vermonters:

Most households in Vermont will not lose benefits. For those that do, DCF is committed to providing clear information and support. Notices will explain changes in detail, and households are encouraged to contact ESD. Staff can work with them to make sure they understand their options and, where possible, find exemptions.

"3SquaresVT is a vital resource for many Vermonters," said Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner of ESD. "We know how much families rely on this program, and even small changes can cause real stress. While the majority of households will not see reductions -- for those affected, our staff will be there to walk through the changes, answer questions, and connect households with every resource we can."

For more information about 3SquaresVT or help understanding your notice, visit dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/3SquaresVT or call ESD at 1-800-479-6151 Monday through Friday 7:45am to 4:30pm, except for Thursday when the hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm.