Delaware EBT and Food Supplement Program (SNAP)

Using ASSIST for food benefits

ASSIST is DHSS's online application for health and social service programs. One application can cover the Food Supplement Program, Medicaid, cash assistance, child care, LIHEAP, WIC and SUN Bucks³. You have up to 180 days to finish an application, and you can log out and come back⁴. If you already have an account, the home page offers Finish My Application, Check Application Status, My ASSIST Account (for your notices), Report a Change, and Renew My Benefits³.

For login or other technical problems, call 1-800-372-2022 or email [email protected]²⁴.

ASSIST

The Delaware Food First card and protecting your PIN

If you have never had a card, the EBT vendor mails one after approval, or you can pick one up at a card issuance site⁸. To choose a 4-digit PIN, call 1-800-526-9099 with the 16-digit card number and the primary cardholder's date of birth and last four Social Security digits. Four wrong PIN entries in a row lock the account until midnight⁵. Check your balance on your last receipt, by phone, or at ConnectEBT after creating a user ID with your card^5,1.

If the card is lost or stolen, cancel it at once online or by phone. Your PIN carries over to the replacement⁵. Asking for four or more cards in a year can bring a letter saying the state will watch your transactions⁵. To dispute a wrong charge, call within 90 days of the transaction⁵. DHSS tells cardholders to use "Lock my Card Everywhere" in the ConnectEBT app or website between shopping trips, and to change the PIN each month just before benefits arrive^1,11. The DHSS pages checked October 16, 2026 do not mention chip cards.

DHSS says federal authority to replace stolen SNAP ended in December 2024, so it cannot replace benefits taken through skimming or other fraud¹¹. The replacement form on ASSIST covers only thefts from October 1, 2022 to December 20, 2024³. Still report a theft to the police and send DHSS its SNAP Stolen Benefits Form¹. Separately, the state manual (DSSM 9079.2) says DSS replaces benefits spent with a lost or stolen card after you reported the loss. You must sign an affidavit within ten days⁶.

• Card customer service: 1-800-526-9099
• Cardholder website: ConnectEBT (Delaware)

Delaware SNAP and EBT phone numbers

Applying for the Food Supplement Program

1. Apply in ASSIST. Apply at ASSIST and choose the Food Supplement Program. The same application can add Medicaid, cash assistance or child care^3,1.
2. Or use paper or a State Service Center. On the printable ASSIST paper application, the first page with your name, address and signature sets your filing date if the full form follows within 30 days⁸. You can also apply at a State Service Center in any county^1,9.
3. Do the eligibility interview. The manual calls for a face-to-face first interview, but DSS does it by phone or home visit for hardships such as disability, illness, no transportation or work hours. You cannot be denied for a missed interview before the 30th day⁶.
4. Bring your proofs. DHSS asks for proof of citizenship or eligible status, Delaware residency (state ID, utility bill or official mail), recent pay stubs, your lease or mortgage, and utility bills¹.
5. Watch for the decision letter. DSS mails a decision within 30 days. To ask for a fair hearing, email [email protected]^1,7.

If your household has little or no income, emergency food benefits can come within 7 days after DHSS gets your completed application⁸. Under DSSM 9041 you qualify if your monthly gross income is under $150 and your cash and bank money is $100 or less. You also qualify if your income plus cash is less than your rent or mortgage plus utilities⁶. For help in Spanish, Haitian Creole or another language, call 1-866-843-7212^7,8.

Delaware's 200% income chart for FY2027

Gross limit: as published by Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Social Services (DSS)¹. Net limit and maximum benefit: USDA FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments. All states compared.

Delaware uses broad-based categorical eligibility. Under DSSM 9042, a household with gross income at or below 200% of poverty is categorically eligible. This works because Delaware uses TANF funds for pregnancy-prevention information, which is why a notice about it appears on every food benefit application⁶. If everyone in the household gets TANF, General Assistance or SSI, no income test applies¹. Your benefit amount still depends on net income after deductions¹⁷.

Some people are left out of a categorically eligible household: ineligible noncitizens, ineligible students, fleeing felons, and members who failed a work rule⁶. DHSS's FY2027 chart also lists the 165%, 130% and 100% standards and the maximum benefits: $306 for one person and $1,023 for four¹.

Net income test. If your gross income is at or below 200% of poverty, you are categorically eligible under DSSM 9042 and do not face the net income test⁶. Above 200%, a household with a member who is 60 or older or disabled can still qualify by passing the net test alone. For FY2027 that limit is $1,330 a month for one person^1,6.

Assets. Categorically eligible households (gross income at or below 200% of poverty) have no asset limit⁶. Households that qualify only through the net test have an FY2027 federal limit of $3,000, or $4,750 with an elderly or disabled member¹⁷. The manual text still prints the older $2,000 and $3,000 amounts⁶.

Delaware's A-to-Z payment calendar

Between the 2nd and the 23rd of each month, by the first letter of the case head's last name.

The Delaware ConnectEBT site posts this table⁵, and a DSS release confirms the 2nd-to-23rd range¹². You get paid on the same day every month. A first payment, or a payment after a change, posts by 6 a.m. the day after DSS approves it⁶.

The state manual says benefits unused for 365 days are removed, with warning notices at 60, 90 and 230 days⁶. The ConnectEBT page says 274 days⁵, so plan to use benefits well before nine months.

Interim reports, renewals and the 130% reporting rule

Most households get a 12-month certification period and must return an interim report in the 6th month, or DSS closes the case. Households where everyone is elderly or disabled and no one earns wages get 24 months, with the interim report in month 12⁶. Renew with Renew My Benefits in ASSIST³. An application filed after the period ends counts as new, with prorated benefits⁶.

Between renewals you report income only when the household's monthly income goes over 130% of poverty for its size, within 10 days after the end of that month⁶. Adults under the work rules must report within 10 days if their work drops below 20 hours a week².

Rules specific to Delaware

Work rules for adults 18-64 since November 1, 2025, with no waived areas for FY2027

DSS applied the 2025 federal changes on November 1, 2025. The age cutoff rose from 54 to 64, and the child-in-home exemption now covers only children under 14. Exemptions for homeless people, veterans and former foster youth ended October 31, 2025². After three months without meeting the rule, you need 80 hours a month of work or SNAP Employment and Training¹. Exemptions include working 30 hours a week, earning at least $217.50 a week, pregnancy, unemployment benefits, half-time school, and drug or alcohol treatment. For a health reason, ask your case manager for a Medical Exemption Form². USDA's list of waivers in effect October 1, 2026 shows none for Delaware¹³.

Noncitizen limits from April 1, 2026

Since April 1, 2026, only U.S. nationals, Cuban and Haitian entrants, COFA citizens, and green card holders with 5 years in that status (or an exemption) can get food benefits besides citizens. People already on SNAP without one of these statuses lose benefits at their next renewal. Other eligible household members keep theirs. Call 1-866-843-7212 with questions².

SUN Bucks paid $120 per child in summer 2026

SUN Bucks paid $120 per eligible school-age child in summer 2026¹⁰. Children were enrolled automatically through SNAP, TANF, income-tested Medicaid, or free or reduced-price school meals. Other families at or under 185% of poverty could apply in ASSIST by August 31, 2026¹⁰. If you get SNAP, the money goes on your SNAP card. Otherwise it comes on a separate SUN Bucks card. Keep that card for future summers. Unused SUN Bucks expire after 122 days¹⁰.

No soda ban and no restaurant meals option

Delaware is not on USDA's food restriction waiver list (updated October 13, 2026), so soda and candy remain eligible¹⁴. It is also not a Restaurant Meals Program state (list updated August 7, 2026)¹⁵. Hot or prepared foods, non-food items, alcohol and supplements are not allowed¹.

Online grocery orders

USDA lists online SNAP retailers serving Delaware, including ACME, ALDI, Amazon, Food Lion, ShopRite, Walmart and Wawa (page updated July 7, 2026)¹⁶. SNAP pays only for eligible food. Delivery, service and membership fees cannot come from your benefits¹.

Other assistance in Delaware

Sources

1. SNAP (eligibility, FY2027 income limits and benefit amounts, Stay SNAP Safe), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
2. SNAP Alert (noncitizen eligibility from April 1, 2026; work requirements FAQ), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
3. ASSIST Home (apply, renew, report a change; SNAP Stolen Benefit Replacement), Delaware Health and Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
4. About ASSIST (Food Supplement Program, Delaware Food First card, 180-day applications), Delaware Health and Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
5. Delaware EBT cardholder site (PIN, balance, lost cards, issuance schedule), ConnectEBT, Delaware EBT. Checked 16 October 2026.
6. Delaware Social Services Manual 9000, Food Stamp Program (DSSM 9030, 9041, 9042, 9068, 9079, 9085, 9093), Delaware Administrative Code, Title 16. Checked 16 October 2026.
7. Contact DSS (Customer Relations, fair hearing requests), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
8. ASSIST Paper Application (English), posted June 2026, Delaware Health and Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
9. State Service Centers (locations), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
10. SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program, Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
11. DHSS Urges SNAP Clients to Take Action to Protect EBT Benefits from Theft (June 9, 2026), State of Delaware News. Checked 16 October 2026.
12. Delaware Will Issue March Food Benefits on March 4 to Reduce Hardships (February 12, 2019), State of Delaware News. Checked 16 October 2026.
13. Status of State ABAWD Time Limit Waivers, Fiscal Year 2027, 1st Quarter (in effect October 1, 2026), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
14. SNAP Food Restriction Waivers (page updated October 13, 2026), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
15. SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (page updated August 7, 2026), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
16. SNAP State Directory: Delaware (page updated July 7, 2026), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
17. SNAP – Fiscal Year 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (memo, August 21, 2026), U.S. Department of Agriculture. Checked 16 October 2026.
18. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
19. Delaware Medicaid Eligibility, Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
20. Utility Assistance (LIHEAP / Delaware Energy Assistance Program), Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
21. WIC Program Home Page, Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health. Checked 16 October 2026.
22. Delaware Announces 2027 Marketplace Health Insurance Rates (September 4, 2026), State of Delaware News, Delaware Department of Insurance. Checked 16 October 2026.
23. Health Insurance Marketplace (Delaware), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
24. ASSIST Contact Us, Delaware Health and Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.