New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is donating $250 in federal funds to families

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday unveiled a chicken-in-every-pot-style payout to New Yorkers in need while she runs for a full term.

Families receiving federal assistance will receive an additional $250 in support — from federal funds for pandemic relief to New York — at a time when inflation and consumer prices are skyrocketing, according to a Friday press release.

“This one-time payment will provide a vital lifeline for tens of thousands of families to pay overdue bills or other household expenses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hochul announced.

The move comes as Hochul faces criticism from political rivals left and right over its handling of crime and other important issues ahead of the June 28 Democratic primary for governor.

More than 100,000 families with children aged 17 and under are expected to benefit from the one-time payments that the State Office for Temporary Aid and Disabled Aid will disburse via EBT cards starting May 14. Eligible families will receive prior written notification, according to the press release.

Federal pandemic assistance approved last year will foot the bill for the $28 million program at a time when COVID-19 rates continue to climb amid the state’s highest inflation in decades.

“Help is on the way for working families across New York State. When I wrote the American Rescue Plan, I was careful to include solid investments for the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund to help families with children make ends meet, keep food on the table, cover bills, and other critical needs Paying for expenses,” US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in the governor’s press release.

Hochul also announced Thursday that all New Yorkers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would receive maximum food stamp benefits through the end of May.

That would mean an additional $95 a month for a family of four receiving assistance from the federal program overseen by the Bureau of Temporary and Disabled Assistance, according to a press release.

Joel Berg, executive director of the city-based nonprofit Hunger Free America, said an extra $250 would make a difference for families struggling to get food on the dinner table, but federal and state policymakers did could do a lot more to help them move forward.

“The biggest difference between people in poverty and people who aren’t isn’t income, it’s whether they own or have debt, and I think we really need to think about poverty policies very differently,” said Berg, who is responsible for the policymakers to seek a higher minimum wage and expanded food assistance programs.

COVID-19 has ravaged supply chains far and wide, with many families struggling to secure supplies of baby formula in recent days after manufacturers launched voluntary product recalls.

The state is leaning on manufacturers to solve supply problems and is encouraging struggling New Yorkers to consider their eligibility for additional assistance from the state’s Office of Women, Infants and Children, according to a press release from the governor Thursday.

“I urge all parents and guardians to use these resources and keep up-to-date with important information to take care of their families,” the governor said in the press release.