In less than two months, the month of October of this year, the maximum amount available to applicants for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) will have an increase in 49 states and territories of the United States, while in one state will rather see its maximum benefit minimized. The new maximum rates will take effect during fiscal year 2025 until the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is reinstated for fiscal year 2026.
The SNAP benefits provides monthly financial assistance to low- and low-income households in all 50 states, Washington DC, and U.S. territories. These funds are delivered through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used the same in participating stores, and are paid monthly.
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 Food Research and Action Center says about 36 percent of households receiving SNAP benefits have the maximum allotment.
48 Contiguous States and Washington
In the lower 48 states and Washington, DC, the maximum amount available to a single applicant living alone will increase to $292 per month, one 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 a SNAP recipient receives in Alaska is subtly different than 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 will see their maximum allotment 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 of $1,437, compared to $1,434 that I had before.
United States Virgin Islands
Starting in October, single-person households in the U.S. Virgin Islands can count on a maximum benefit of $376, up slightly from $375 in the current fiscal year. For a household of four people, the maximum amount available will increase from $1,251 to $1,254, an increase of $3.
Anyone who wants to know if they qualify for SNAP benefits must apply in the state in which they reside and meet various requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on the USDA website. Rules can change from state to state, because SNAP is administered at the state and local level, while funds are provided by the federal government.
What’s the COLA Adjustment?
The cost of living adjustment (COLA) also applies to Social Security benefits, and tries to help beneficiaries not lose purchasing power due to inflation. Usually, both SNAP and Social Security keep up with inflation, but it all depends on each year’s calculation. In this article we explain how the COLA increment is calculated and when the next one will be applied.