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The State Department of Human Resources has taken several steps to help lessen the burden of the COVID-19 emergency for many of its customers. 

 

• Renewing SNAP and Cash Benefits. If your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP), or Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) benefits were scheduled to expire between October 2020 and March 2021, your recertification period has been extended for 6 months. For more information about recertification, click here.

• Work Requirements. If you are between the ages of 18 and 49 years, without dependents, and working less than 20 hours per week, you were at risk of losing your benefits because of federally imposed work requirements that had been scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2020. The new work requirements have now been suspended and will not go into effect until after the coronavirus emergency has passed.

• Shopping with SNAP online. SNAP benefits may now be used to order groceries online through Amazon, Walmart, and ShopRite. For more information, click here.

 

You can get information, apply for DHS programs and services, and check the status of applications online at mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us/dashboardClient/#/home, and by calling the DHS Call Center at 1-800-332-6347 (TTY 1-800-735-2258), from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. A paper application may also be mailed or faxed to the resident's local Department of Social Services Office.

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Information Needed To Apply:

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• Your Social Security Number and mailing address.

• A telephone number where you can be reached.

• The name, birth date, and Social Security Number of all dependents.

• Immigration status information.

• The business name, address, and dates of employment for all employers within the last 18 months. A copy of your W-2 form may be helpful.

• A list of all household expenses.

• Criminal history.

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Resources

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Homeless Persons Representation Project:  Accessing Public Benefits During COVID-19: http://hprplaw.org/penn_station/folders/who_we_are/covid-19/public_benefits_for_covid-19/Public_Benefits_Flyer__04_2_20_English.pdf

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Maryland People's Law Library's pages:

Food Supplement Program: https://www.peoples-law.org/food-supplement-program

Temporary Cash Assistance: https://www.peoples-law.org/temporary-cash-assistance-tca

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