Maximum awards for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be increased to ensure they do not lose purchasing power to inflation. SNAP is designed to help Americans with low or no income who would otherwise struggle to meet their basic food needs.
The new amounts will go into effect on October 1, 2024 and will be in effect until September 30, 2025, when a new cost-of-living adjustment will be made. According to the Food Research and Action Center, approximately 36% of households receiving SNAP are eligible for the maximum monthly allotment.
COLA Increases Are Not the Same in All the States
In Alaska, the amounts vary compared to other US states, and depend on whether the person lives in an urban or rural area, as well as housing density:
Urban
- Single person household: $377
- Household of four people: $1,258
Rural 1
- One-person household: $481
- Household of four people: $1,604
Rural 2
- One-person household: $586
- Household of four people: $1,953
Beyond the mainland, there are also adjustments for certain states and territories
Hawai In Hawaii, single SNAP recipients will see a reduction in their maximum allotment, dropping from $527 to $517, which is a decrease of $10 per month. Households of four people will see a reduction of $36, going from $1,759 to $1,723 a month.
US Territories
Virgin Islands: Starting in October, single-person households in the Virgin Islands will see a modest increase in their maximum benefit, rising from $375 to $376. For households of four, the maximum benefit will increase from $1,251 to $1,254, an increase of $3 per month.
Guam: In Guam, a single applicant who previously received a maximum of $430 will see a small increase to $431. Households of four people will be able to receive up to $1,437, compared to $1,434 the previous year.
Anyone who wants to know if they are eligible for SNAP must apply in the state where they live and meet certain requirements, including income and resource limits. Because SNAP is run at the state and local level, although it receives funding from the federal government, application requirements may vary depending on the region in which you live.
Additionally, the date on which SNAP payments are made varies by state. In some places, payments are issued on the same day to all beneficiaries, while in others, especially in states with larger populations, payments are spread throughout the month.