The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides benefits to low-income families and individuals in vulnerable economic situations. These funds are intended for purchasing food to prevent household members from facing food insecurity.
If you are already a beneficiary, you will know that SNAP benefits are deposited into Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards each month. These cards function exactly like a credit or debit card and can be used to pay for food items at affiliated stores that accept this type of payment.
You can buy a list of fresh or frozen food products accepted for SNAP benefits that include fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt), breads and cereals.
Canned foods such as beans, tomatoes and soups, baby formulas and cereals are also allowed. In addition, you can buy seeds and plants to produce food at home, water and non-alcoholic beverages.
Maximum SNAP Allotments Up to September 30, 2024
The amounts received by each family range from $291 per month for an individual to $1,751 for 8 individuals. Below is the complete table of SNAP benefit values valid until September 30, 2024:
- 1 household member: $291.
- 2 members: $535.
- 3 members: $766.
- 4 members: $973.
- 5 members: $1,155.
- 6 members: $1,386.
- 7 members: $1,532.
- 8 members: $1,751.
- Additional member: $219.
These values apply to the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC, while for other locations such as Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, SNAP values are much higher due to the higher cost of living in those areas compared to the rest of the states and territories.
The payment dates for SNAP benefits in all states are already available. Each state has the freedom to define its own payment dates based on its structural payment capabilities and the needs of its populations.
For June 2024, the payment dates are as follows
- Arizona: June 1-13
- California: June 1-10
- Colorado: June 1-10
- Connecticut: June 1-3
- Delaware: June 2-23
- District of Columbia: June 1-10
- Florida: June 1-28
- Georgia: June 5-23
- Guam: June 1-10
- Hawaii: June 3-5
- Idaho: June 1-10
- Illinois: June 1-20
- Indiana: June 5-23
- Iowa: June 1-10
- Kansas: June 1-10
- Kentucky: June 1-19
- Louisiana: June 1-23
- Maine: June 10-14
- Massachusetts: June 1-14
- Michigan: June 3-21
- Missouri: June 1-22
- Montana: June 2-6
- Nebraska: June 1-5
- Nevada: June 1-10
- New Hampshire: June 5
- New Jersey: June 1-5
- New Mexico: June 1-20
- New York: June 1-9
- North Carolina: June 3-21
- Ohio: June 2-20
- Oklahoma: June 1-10
- Oregon: June 1-9
- Pennsylvania: June 3-14
- South Carolina: June 1-19
- South Dakota: June 10
- Tennessee: June 1-20
- Texas: June 1-28
- Utah: June 5, 11, and 15
- Virginia: June 1-7
- Washington: June 1-20
- West Virginia: June 1-9
- Wisconsin: June 1-15
- Wyoming: June 1-4
What’s Forbidden to Do with Food Stamps Funds?
The SNAP benefits have restrictions on how they can be used. These funds are specifically designed to help low-income individuals and families buy nutritious food. Therefore, it is prohibited to use SNAP funds to purchase certain products and perform certain activities.
Some of the restrictions include:
- Alcohol and Tobacco: SNAP funds may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, tobacco or other related products.
- Prepared foods: You cannot buy prepared foods to be consumed in the place where they are purchased, such as restaurant meals, take-out meals or fast foods.
- Non-food Items: SNAP funds cannot be used to purchase non-food items such as cleaning products, toiletries, toilet paper, among others.
- Vitamins and Supplements: You cannot buy vitamins, food supplements or other similar products with SNAP funds.