Department of Family Services COVID-19 Program Updates

April 2021 - The  SNAP Emergency Allotment is a supplement will bring eligible SNAP households up to the maximum monthly SNAP allotment for their household size or an additional $95.00 for households already at the max allotment.  The SNAP Emergency Allotment requires monthly approval from the Food and Nutrition Services for Wyoming to issue this supplement and is not guaranteed to continue past the approved month.

The Emergency Allotment supplement is different from the 15% benefit increase that is approved through September 30, 2021. The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 temporarily increased the maximum SNAP allotment by 15% for January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extended the 15% increase to the maximum SNAP Allotment until September 30, 2021.

Maximum allotment amounts based on household size:

Household Size                      Maximum Monthly Allotment

1                                                $234

2                                                $430

3                                                $616

4                                                $782

5                                                $929

6                                                $1,114

7                                                $1,232

8                                                $1,408

9                                                $1,584

10                                              $1,760

For each additional member, add $176.

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 section 702(d)

As of 12/27/2020 Excludes Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) as income the month it is received and as an asset 9 months following recipt.

CARES Act, section 2102, 2104, and 2107

Any of the pandemic unemployment assistance payments under the CARES ACT are considered unearned income for SNAP eligibility. The pandemic unemployment assistance payments are treated the same as any other unemployment payments.

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 - Section 702(e)

January 16, 2021 - until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted.

Temporalry Expands student eligibility Students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education,  who either:

1. 1.  are eligible to participate in State or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
   2.  have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year determined in accordance with part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.  

Currently, there are no delays in issuing SNAP benefits.  Our top priority at this time is to be able to serve the public while ensuring the health and safety of our staff and our neighbors. If you find yourself in need of assistance (i.e. SNAP, Cash Assistance, Child Care Assistance) or have questions on an already open case please contact your local field office (https://dfs.wyo.gov/about/contact-us/), they are available to assist you. For your safety and convenience, phone interviews are available and encouraged. At this time there are no delays for any of the benefits that our agency administers. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure access to our programs and resources throughout this time.

For Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (aka food stamps), please go to the SNAP page for all information related to qualifying and applying for SNAP benefits.

For Personal Opportunities with Employment Responsibilities (POWER) benefits (aka cash assistance), please go to the Cash Assistance page for all information related to qualifying and applying for cash assistance.

For Child Care Financial Assistance benefits, please go to the Child Care Assistance page for all information related to qualifying and applying for Child Care Assistance.

No. The Department of Family Services takes the health and safety of our clients and staff very seriously. Based on this we want you to be aware that there are many ways you can turn in needed paperwork to your worker at your local office that do not require you coming to the office.

• We have drop boxes outside the majority of our offices for your convenience and safety.
• We can accept emails, faxes, and items mailed via the USPS.
• You do not have to have a scanner to send up paperwork! If you have a smartphone you can take a clear picture of the required paperwork and email it to your worker directly from your phone. If you do not have your caseworker’s email address, please contact the office in which they are located using the Contact Us and Locations page.
• You are not required to do an in person interview with us to get benefits. In fact, phone interviews are encouraged and preferred at this time.
• If at any time you are having issues getting needed paperwork submitted please contact your worker and they will work with you on how we can get this resolved.

Yes.  SNAP EBT cards are accepted at Walmart and Amazon.  Per SNAP federal regulations, any delivery fees will need to be paid by means other than an EBT card.

Please call or email (if you have the email address) your caseworker. You can find local office contact information on the Contact Us and Locations page.

Families First Coroavirus Response Act - Section 2301

If you are a single adult receiving SNAP benefits and you have work requirements you have to meet as well as have a limited number of months you receive benefits, you are an ABAWD. If you are an ABAWD, it is important to know that the time limit for ABAWDs has been temporarily and partially suspended due to COVID-19 and applies during the period of April 1, 2020 through the end of the month subsequent to the month in which the public health emergency declaration is lifted. The only time ABAWD months will count is if the ABAWD refuses suitable employment or quits without good cause. If you have any questions, please contact your caseworker. You can find local office contact information on the Contact Us and Locations page.

The federal government has allocated additional funds to LIEAP.  To learn more about LIEAP resources and COVID-19 or to apply for benefits, please click here.

The Wyoming Child Support Program is committed to getting support to families. While the physical child support offices are closed to customers and visitors during this time, services will continue to be provided.

The State Disbursement Unit, which is responsible for processing child support payments is fully functional and is currently open to the public. There is no anticipated delay in processing payments received due to COVID-19.

For more information regarding the Wyoming Child Support Program, please visit the website here.  Look for the “Stay COVID-19 Aware!” box for the most up-to-date information.

Guide To Internet Plans For Low And Fixed-Income Households

While the Wyoming Boys’ and Girls’ Schools have always placed a premium on the health and safety of their residents and staff, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both institutions have implemented a series of new protocols designed to maximize the protection of the health and safety of all individuals at the institutions. The facilities are focusing on increased hygiene and disinfection practices, conducting thorough medical screening processes of all incoming residents, screening of all staff prior to each shift, restrictions on some non-essential visitors to campus, and screening of all visitors upon arrival on campus. We are strongly encouraging all persons wishing to visit one of the facilities to consider engaging in video conferencing visits and/or increased phone contacts with the students in lieu of in-person visits, in an attempt to follow CDC guidelines on social isolating and to protect the health of all involved.

Pursuant to flexibilities provided by recent federal policy change, our field staff now have discretion to conduct visits with children, foster families and biological families through mechanisms other than in person visits. These decisions are being made on a case by case basis, and in consultation with supervisors and managers based on assessed safety risk and need.

To the maximum extent possible, these visits are still being done in person. We understand the importance of preserving relationships between children and their families. With additional health screening processes in place, we’re doing our absolute best to preserve these face to face interactions. In the event of a health concern or heightened risk, there are some visits happening through other means. There is no agency-wide recommendation or prohibition against in person visits if they can be done safely and in accordance with the recommendations of the Dept. of Health and the Governor.

DFS’ enterprise Google platform has been confirmed to be a HIPAA compliant method of video and conferencing support. DFS also has limited ZOOM access in some areas. Our ZOOM licenses, as with Google, provide access to HIPAA compliant tele- and video-conferencing. Our local staff are happy to facilitate these processes through our platforms whenever necessary. Most MDT meetings and family team meetings have moved to video-conferencing platforms.

Court process changes vary from district to district. Most are facilitating shelter care hearings and other required hearings by phone or video.  For specific questions about your court, please contact them directly.

With limited access to fingerprinting in some areas of the state, we have developed contingency plans for certifying and re-certifying foster homes. Right now, they are an invaluable resource that’s absolutely necessary to support our families.  As of now, our network is stable and if anything, we’ve seen requests to become foster homes increase in some areas of the state.

We expect upcoming needs for placement of potentially sick or exposed children in to foster care. We’re working to identify capacity within our current network to support children through a potential quarantine or care for a sick child. We also have plans underway for emergency staffing, knowing that the potential of staff shortages in the near future are very real.

All DFS Field Offices are staffed and open to the public.  To get the address or phone number of the DFS office in your county, please visit Contact Us & Locations.

Slide Deck

Video Meeting

To better support childcare providers servicing essential workers, a team has recently developed a few tools to help programs implement best practice from CDC Guidance for Child Care Program.

As you are all aware, the current State Public Health Order has allowed child care to reopen and expand care, while still prioritizing providing care to children of essential personnel.

The Department has been compiling questions from child care providers related to the requirements in the new Order. Below is links of attached PDFs of a Child Care Provider FAQ: Public Health Orders, Reopening and Expanding Services developed in consultation with the Wyoming Department of Health. And attached is a guide for Reimagining Child Care and Education After COVID-19, developed by the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative.

Child Care FAQ
Reopening After COVID-19

COVID-19:  Guidance for Childcare Providers from the Wyoming Department of Health.  

Please see this link, it provides guidance from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as they have posted a Supplemental Guide for Child Care. Written in collaboration with the Offices of Child Care and Head Start for a variety of child care settings, this resource provides guidance specific to child care on issues such as:

• Social distancing;
• Child pick up and drop off procedures;
• Cleaning and disinfecting of toys and bedding;
• Safely caring for infants and toddlers; and
• Food preparation and meal service.

In addition, the Guidance document provides numerous links to resources that provide even greater detail, including information regarding children’s risks concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please click here to access the Substitute Worker Availability site.

Guidance for Emergency Child Care