The Service of Food and Nutrition from the USA (FNS) has made new announcements about new maximum payment amounts for SNAP benefits. For this month of October, the maximum amount available for applicants for benefits from the Program Assistance Nutritional Supplementary (SNAP) will have an increase in 49 states and territories of the United States, while one state will see its maximum benefit reduced. The new maximum rates will take effect during fiscal year 2025 until the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for fiscal year 2026.
The SNAP benefits provides monthly financial assistance to low-income households in all 50 states, Washington DC, and U.S. territories, funds are sent via electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT), which can be used at participating stores, and are paid monthly. The beneficiaries of benefits must wait a few months to see the increase, since the changes will take effect from October 1, as confirmed by the FNS. The Center for Food Action and Research states that about 36 percent of households that receive benefits from the SNAP, They have the maximum allocation.
How the SNAP Increases Will Work in the Different States of the Country
- 48 States and Washington: In the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC, the amount maximum available to an applicant SNAP single, living alone will increase to $292, per month, a dollar more than before. For a household with four people, the increase will be $2, that is, from $973 per month to $975.
- Alaska: The amount received by a recipient of SNAP Alaska is subtly different from the rest of the United States. Payment amounts are decided based on whether you live in an urban or rural area, which is based on housing population density.
- Urban
Single-person household: $377
Household of four people: $1,258
- Rural 1
Single-person household: $481
Household of four people: $1,604
- Rural 2:
Single-person household: $586
Household of four people: $1,953
- Hawaii: Hawaii residents, who live alone and apply for SNAP benefits, will see the maximum allowance reduced from $527 to $517. Four-person households will also see a decrease from $1,759 per month to $1,723, a reduction of $36.
- Guam: In Guam, a single applicant who can currently claim a maximum of $430 will receive $431 beginning at the end of the 2024 year. A regular family of four will be able to claim a maximum amount in benefits of $1,437, compared to the $1,434 it previously had.
- United States Virgin Islands
- Starting in October, households of people living alone in the United States Virgin Islands can count on a benefit maximum of $376, up slightly from $375 in the fiscal year we are currently in. For a household of four people, the maximum amount available will increase from $1,251 to $1,254, an increase of $3.
Do I Qualify for SNAP Benefits?
Anyone who wants to know if they qualify to receive the SNAP benefits. You must apply in the state in which you reside and meet various requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on the state’s website. USDA, the rules can change from state to state, because the SNAP It is administered at the state and local level, while funds are provided by the federal government.