The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a social plan that is aimed at limited-income families in the United States, this initiative is financed with funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in order to guarantee that families of the most vulnerable population have food security.
The monthly financial aid is distributed to low-income households through an EBT benefits card, with which they can stock up on basic foods purchased at retail chains or supermarkets that are authorized by the program. In this regard, as it is a single monthly benefit, it is important that households that receive food stamps keep in mind the payment dates for each state so that they can better organize themselves, therefore, the SNAP calendar for the month of September 2024 will be as follows:
- Alabama: September 4-23.
- Alaska: September 1.
- Arizona: September 1-13.
- Arkansas: September 4-13.
- California: September 1-10.
- North Carolina: September 3-21.
- South Carolina: September 1-10.
- Colorado: September 1-10.
- Connecticut: September 1-3.
- North Dakota: September 1.
- South Dakota: September 10.
- Delaware: September 2-23.
- District of Columbia: September 1-10.
- Florida: September 1 to 28.
- Georgia: September 5 to 23.
- Hawaii: September 3-5.
- Idaho: September 1-10.
- Illinois: September 1-10.
- Indiana: September 5-23.
- Iowa: September 1-10.
- Kansas: September 1-10.
- Kentucky: September 1-19.
- Louisiana: September 1-23.
- Maine: September 10-14.
- Maryland: September 4-23.
- Massachusetts: September 1-14.
- Michigan: September 3-21.
- Minnesota: September 4-13.
- Mississippi: September 4-21.
- Missouri: September 1-22.
- Montana: September 2-6.
- Nebraska: September 1-5.
- Nevada: September 1 to 10.
- New Jersey: September 1-5.
- New York: September 1 to 9.
- New Hampshire: September 5.
- New Mexico: September 1-20.
- Ohio: September 2-20.
- Oklahoma: September 1-10.
- Oregon: September 1-9.
- Pennsylvania: September 3-14.
- Rhode Island: September 1.
- Tennessee: September 1-20.
- Texas: September 1-28.
- Utah: September 5, 11 and 15.
- Vermont: September 1.
- Virginia: September 1-7.
- West Virginia: September 1-9.
- Washington: September 1-20.
- Wisconsin: September 1-15.
- Wyoming: September 1-4.
Maximum SNAP Benefits Until September 30, 2024
Here are the maximum SNAP allocations in the lower 48 states and Washington from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, according to the USDA website:
- Household size 1: $291
- Household size 2: $535
- Household size 3: $766
- Household size 4: $973
- Household size 5: $1,155
- Household size 6: $1,386
- Household size 7: $1,532
- Household size 8: $1,751
- Each additional person: $219
Benefits are typically highest for households in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a family with four members, maximum benefits in Alaska could be up to $1,937.
SNAP Maximum Income Limits
Monthly income eligibility standards have undergone changes for the 48 states and Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here is the maximum monthly gross income limit, which is 130% of the federal poverty level, for the 48 contiguous United States and Washington:
- Household size 1: $1,580
- Household size 2: $2,137
- Household size 3: $2,694
- Household size 4: $3,250
- Household size 5: $3,807
- Household size 6: $4,364
- Household size 7: $4,921
- Household size 8: $5,478
- Each additional person: $557
SNAP Benefits Could be Trimmed Down if This Happens
They have been discussing what the controversial Project 2025, promoted by groups, is about and the impact that what it promotes could have on SNAP benefits, Social Security, WIC allowances, and Medicare.
It seeks to restore “the family” as the “center of American society”, based on conservative religious values, it also seeks to dismantle the administrative state to minimize or eliminate federal agencies with social impacts.
Project 2025 proposes several substantial modifications to the SNAP program, including a reduction in available benefits and the implementation of stricter eligibility criteria.
These proposals also seek to eliminate current exemptions that allow vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or disabled, to receive benefits without meeting work requirements. In addition, the creation of state food assistance programs is encouraged, which could lead to inequalities in access to benefits between different states.
Another outstanding proposal of the Project 2025 is the implementation of audits and thorough reviews of the SNAP program to detect fraud and abuse, with the possibility of applying additional cuts if significant misuse is identified. In line with the philosophy of the project, the importance of self-sustainability and personal responsibility is emphasized, suggesting that the ultimate goal should be to reduce dependence on government assistance among SNAP beneficiaries.