The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP benefits, and in the past as Food Stamps, has been widely recognized by American society as one of the most important programs that have lifted millions of families out of poverty, keeping them away from alimentary risk.
When a family signs up for SNAP, they receive a card that works like a debit card. With this plastic card, beneficiary families can buy food in most supermarkets and grocery stores, including large chains such as Costco, Aldi, Walmart, or even Amazon. It is very easy to use:
You simply select your products and, when paying, take out your SNAP EBT card. It’s just like shopping normally, only with a little help from the federal government.
Not all SNAP recipients receive the same amounts
Anyone can apply for SNAP benefits, as long as they meet certain income and need criteria. This includes families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The program is designed to be a support in difficult times, and there is no need to feel ashamed about accessing it. Everyone deserves access to nutritious food.
Not all beneficiary families receive the same amounts, but the money assigned to them each month depends on several factors such as the current household income, assets such as a house, a car, or even savings, among others. It also depends on the number of members in the household, as well as the geographic location.
In other words, the money allocated to a family that lives, for example, in Florida, is not the same as one that lives in Alaska, because the cost of living is different in both locations.
SNAP allotments according to the state or territory of residence
That said, below are the maximum amounts to pay in the different areas: 48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia, Alaska (Urban, Rural 1, and Rural 2, Guam, and Virgin Islands)
48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,158
- 6 people: $1,390
- 7 people: $1,536
- 8 people: $1,756
- Each additional person: $220
Alaska (Urban):
- 1 person: $377
- 2 people: $692
- 3 people: $991
- 4 people: $1,258
- 5 people: $1,494
- 6 people: $1,793
- 7 people: $1,982
- 8 people: $2,265
- Each additional person: $283
Alaska (Rural 1):
- 1 person: $481
- 2 people: $882
- 3 people: $1,263
- 4 people: $1,604
- 5 people: $1,905
- 6 people: $2,287
- 7 people: $2,527
- 8 people: $2,888
- Each additional person: $361
Alaska (Rural 2):
- 1 person: $586
- 2 people: $1,074
- 3 people: $1,538
- 4 people: $1,953
- 5 people: $2,319
- 6 people: $2,783
- 7 people: $3,076
- 8 people: $3,516
- Each additional person: $440
Guam:
- 1 person: $431
- 2 people: $790
- 3 people: $1,132
- 4 people: $1,437
- 5 people: $1,707
- 6 people: $2,049
- 7 people: $2,264
- 8 people: $2,588
- Each additional person: $324
Hawaii:
- 1 person: $517
- 2 people: $948
- 3 people: $1,357
- 4 people: $1,723
- 5 people: $2,046
- 6 people: $2,456
- 7 people: $2,714
- 8 people: $3,102
- Each additional person: $388
United States Virgin Islands:
- 1 person: $376
- 2 people: $689
- 3 people: $987
- 4 people: $1,254
- 5 people: $1,489
- 6 people: $1,787
- 7 people: $1,975
- 8 people: $2,257
- Each additional person: $282
These amounts are valid until September 30, 2025, when fiscal year 2025 ends, and were increased based on the cost of living adjustment (COLA), which affects SNAP benefits and other federal programs such as Social Security (SSI, SSDI, retirement). Before the arrival of fiscal year 2026, the USDA will update the COLA again so that benefits do not lose purchase power to inflation.
It remains to be seen what the next government of president-elect Donald Trump will apply over the Social Security system. As soon as the new administration takes the office, we’ll discover how this new policies will kick in and how they will affect millions of low-income beneficiaries.