SNAP Benefits increase This Month: Check the Maximum Amount You Can Get

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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has updated its maximum monthly allotments for the fiscal year starting October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025. These adjustments reflect changes in the cost of living and aim to ensure families across the U.S. have access to nutritious food.

This update impacts beneficiaries in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with allotments varying based on household size and location.

What SNAP Benefits Cover

SNAP benefits are designed to help families purchase nutritious food. Eligible items include:

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Meat, poultry, and fish
  • Dairy products
  • Bread, cereal, and snacks
  • Non-alcoholic beverages
  • Seeds and plants that produce food for the household

Prohibited Items: SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, medications, pet food, or other non-food items.

Updated SNAP Allotments for 48 States and D.C. (as of December 2024)

The maximum monthly allotments for households in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. are as follows:

  • 1 Person: Up to $292
  • 2 People: Up to $536
  • 3 People: Up to $768
  • 4 People: Up to $975
  • 5 People: Up to $1,158
  • 6 People: Up to $1,390
  • 7 People: Up to $1,536
  • 8 People: Up to $1,756
  • For each additional person, households receive an extra $220.

SNAP Allotments for U.S. Territories

Guam

Due to a higher cost of living, Guam offers significantly higher allotments:

  • 1 Person: Up to $431
  • 2 People: Up to $790
  • 3 People: Up to $1,132
  • 4 People: Up to $1,437
  • 5 People: Up to $1,707
  • 6 People: Up to $2,049
  • 7 People: Up to $2,264
  • 8 People: Up to $2,588
  • For each additional person, households receive an extra $324.

U.S. Virgin Islands

SNAP allotments in the Virgin Islands are also higher than those in the mainland:

  • 1 Person: Up to $376
  • 2 People: Up to $689
  • 3 People: Up to $987
  • 4 People: Up to $1,254
  • 5 People: Up to $1,489
  • 6 People: Up to $1,787
  • 7 People: Up to $1,975
  • 8 People: Up to $2,257
  • For each additional person, households receive an extra $282.

How SNAP Benefits Are Adjusted

SNAP allotments are increased annually through the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This adjustment is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the third quarter of each year.

If the CPI-W shows an increase compared to the previous year, SNAP benefits are adjusted upwards to account for higher living costs, ensuring families can maintain access to essential food resources.

Key Takeaways

  • SNAP benefits help families access nutritious food and ease the financial burden of groceries.
  • Benefit amounts vary based on household size and location.
  • COLA adjustments ensure SNAP benefits keep pace with inflation, protecting food security for millions of families.

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