Everything is changing with SNAP benefits

The US Food And Nutrition Service (FNS) has announced updated payment Limit values ​​for the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Programme (GRAB). The changes will take effect in October of this year and will last through fiscal year 2025. The revised benefit amounts will affect recipients in 49 states and U.S. territories, with one state reducing the maximum benefit. These adjustments will remain in effect until the next cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is set for fiscal year 2026.

GRAB is a major federal assistance program that provides monthly financial assistance to low-income individuals and families in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and the U.S. territories. This assistance is paid through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that recipients can use to purchase groceries at participating retailers. Although the new benefit amounts have been announced, recipients will not begin receiving the increased payments until October 1.

About 36 percent of households receiving SNAP benefits receive the maximum allotment, according to the Food Action and Research Center. Adjustments to maximum benefit amounts are unique to each state and territory and reflect differences in cost of living and other factors.

SNAP adjustments in each state

For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, the maximum is GRAB To use for a person living alone will increase slightly, from $291 to $292 per month. Likewise, the benefit for a four-person household will increase from $973 to $975 per month.

In Alaska, SNAP BenefitThe amounts differ from those in the rest of the country because they are determined by whether the recipient lives in an urban or rural area. Urban areas have higher population densities, while rural areas are less densely populated. For people living in urban areas of Alaska, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit is $377. For a four-person household in these areas, the benefit is $1,258.

In rural Alaska To use Amounts are further divided into Rural 1 and Rural 2 regions based on population density and remoteness. In Rural 1 regions, a one-person household receives a maximum of $481 per month, while a four-person household receives $1,604. In the more remote Rural 2 regions, a one-person household can receive up to $586 per month, and a four-person household can receive up to $1,953. This difference in amounts may seem arbitrary, but in reality, access to food is so scarce and expensive in remote Alaska that the increased benefits are barely enough to cover the difference in transportation costs. Therefore, taking household remoteness into account is critical to the equity of the program.

Hawaii is the only state where the maximum SNAP Benefit will decrease. For a one-person household in Hawaii, the maximum benefit will decrease from $527 to $517 per month. For a four-person household, the benefit will decrease from $1,759 to $1,723 per month, a decrease of $36.

In Guam, the new maximum amounts for social benefits will be increased slightly. A one-person household can now receive 431 US dollars per month instead of the previous 430 US dollars. For a four-person household, the maximum monthly social benefit will increase from 1,434 to 1,437 US dollars.

The U.S. Virgin Islands will also see a modest increase in SNAP benefits. For a one-person household in that territory, the maximum benefit will rise from $375 to $376 per month. For a four-person household, the benefit will rise from $1,251 to $1,254 per month.

To determine eligibility for SNAP BenefitsIndividuals must apply in the state or territory in which they reside, as each state administers the program at the local level, although funding is provided by the federal government. Applicants must meet certain resource and income criteria, which vary by state and are outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its website.