The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has released new maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit levels for fiscal year 2025. These changes will take effect beginning in October and remain in place until the next Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for fiscal year 2026. According to the Food Research and Action Center, approximately 36% of SNAP recipients receive the maximum benefit. This statistic underlines the importance of the program in a context of rising food prices due to inflation.
Every year, SNAP benefits increase in the same proportion as Social Security benefits (retirement, SSI, SSDI, and survivors), affecting 49 states and territories upwards, while one of them will decrease. SNAP provides monthly financial assistance to low-income households in all 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories, such as tribal or overseas territories (Guam, US Virgin Islands).
As Is the Increase in SNAP Benefits Calculated?
Calculating increases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) is a complex process to understand and explain, but we are going to try to simplify it so that we can all understand it. This process involves several economic and demographic factors. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for making these calculations annually.
The main factor analyzed in determining adjustments is the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for food, which measures changes in food prices over time. This index is used as the basis for the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) applied to SNAP and Social Security benefits.
In addition to the CPI, the FNS considers other factors such as the spending patterns of low-income families, the costs of housing and utilities in different regions, and variations in the cost of living between states and territories. These elements are combined into a complex formula to determine profit levels.
Impact of the Increase in SNAP Benefits in Different Regions of the US
In the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC, the maximum monthly benefit for people living alone will increase from $291 to $292. For a household of four people, the benefit will increase from $973 to $975. These increases, while modest, can provide some relief when combined with other assistance programs.
In Alaska, the state known as The Last Frontier, SNAP benefits vary depending on the urban or rural location of the beneficiaries. In the ur areasBanas, a single-person household will receive a maximum of $377, while a four-person household can receive up to $1,258. In the areas rural 1, the benefits are higher.
In the areas rural 1, benefits are higher, with one-person households receiving up to $481 and four-person households receiving up to $1,604. The regions rural 2 They offer the highest benefits, due to the fact that single-person households qualify to receive up to $586 and four-person households can qualify to receive $1,530, if they meet all the requirements.
Increases in Other States — SNAP Benefits on the Rise Everywhere
In Hawaii, single-person households will see their maximum benefit reduced from $527 to $518, while four-person households will see a decrease from $1,759 to $1,723. On the other hand, in Guam, SNAP payments will have a light aument.
The benefit for a family of four people in Guam will increase from $1,434 to $1,437, and the maximum for a single person will increase from $430 to $431. These adjustments reflect differences in the cost of living and the specific needs of each region.
