Free Guide to Understanding SNAP Benefit Changes

What SNAP Is and How the Program Works

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP, is a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food. It's run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and operates in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and some U.S. territories. As of 2024, SNAP serves approximately 42 million people each month, making it one of the largest nutrition programs in the country.

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SNAP works by providing monthly benefits that people can use like a debit card at grocery stores and farmers markets. The program uses an electronic card called the EBT card (Electronic Benefits Transfer). When you use the card at a store, the funds come directly from your SNAP account. The amount of money you receive each month depends on your household size, income level, and expenses. The federal government funds the program, but state agencies administer it, which means rules can vary slightly from state to state.

The program covers a wide range of food items. You can use SNAP benefits to buy fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, snack foods, and non-alcoholic beverages. However, SNAP benefits cannot be used for hot foods, restaurant meals, vitamins, medicines, pet food, or household supplies like soap or paper products. This distinction between eligible and ineligible items is important to understand before shopping.

SNAP has a long history dating back to the 1930s during the Great Depression. The modern program began in 1964 as a pilot program and became permanent in 1971. Over the decades, it has expanded and changed to meet the needs of the nation's population. Understanding what SNAP is fundamentally about—providing food security for people facing financial hardship—helps you understand the reasoning behind program rules and changes.

Practical takeaway: SNAP is a monthly benefit delivered through an EBT card that can be used at participating retailers to purchase specific food items. The amount varies by household, and benefits are administered by your state, so some details differ depending on where you live.

Recent Changes to SNAP Benefit Amounts and Schedules

SNAP benefit amounts are adjusted each year on October 1st based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This annual change attempts to keep up with inflation and food prices. In October 2023, benefits increased by approximately 8.2% due to rising food costs. In October 2024, the increase was smaller at about 3.2%, reflecting a slowdown in inflation compared to the previous year. These percentage changes translate to real money differences for households—for example, a family of four receiving $939 in benefits might see their monthly amount increase or decrease by $25 to $75 depending on the year.

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Beyond the annual October adjustments, the federal government occasionally makes temporary increases to SNAP benefits during times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020 through March 2023, households received extra emergency allotments each month. Families that normally received $100 in benefits might receive $150 or more. These emergency payments ended in March 2023, which meant many households lost a significant portion of their monthly food budget. Some states had been asking for federal approval to continue emergency allotments beyond the national deadline, but this was not granted.

The maximum SNAP benefit amounts also changed. As of October 2024, the maximum monthly benefit for a household of one is $292, for a household of two is $536, for a household of three is $768, and for a household of four is $975. These maximums increase further for larger households. Individual states may provide higher benefits using their own funds, but federal funding sets the base amounts. It's important to note that most people who receive SNAP do not receive the maximum amount—their benefit is calculated based on their specific income and household situation.

Changes have also occurred in how SNAP benefits are distributed in certain situations. For example, homeless individuals and people living in certain institutions may have access to Restaurant Meals Programs in some states, which allow SNAP benefits to be used at participating restaurants. The availability and rules for these programs have expanded in recent years as states recognize that not everyone has a home kitchen where they can prepare meals.

Practical takeaway: SNAP benefits change yearly in October based on inflation, emergency increases may be added during crises, and maximum benefit amounts vary by household size. Understanding these changes helps you know what to expect from your monthly budget.

Income Limits and How They Determine Your Monthly Benefit

SNAP income limits are based on the federal poverty guidelines, which are adjusted yearly. For 2024, the gross income limit for a household of one is approximately $1,550 per month, for a household of two is $2,100, and for a household of four is $3,200. These are gross income numbers, meaning income before taxes or deductions. However, SNAP also allows certain deductions that reduce your countable income, which may allow people with income slightly above the gross limit to still participate in the program.

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The calculation of your SNAP benefit involves several steps. First, your household's gross monthly income is compared to the limit for your household size. If you pass that test, the program then allows you to subtract certain expenses. These deductible expenses include a standard deduction that varies by state, dependent care costs if you have children and need care to work, medical expenses if you are elderly or disabled, and shelter costs like rent or mortgage if they are high. After these deductions are applied to your gross income, you arrive at your "net income," which is the number actually used to calculate your benefit.

The benefit calculation itself follows a formula: the program estimates how much it costs to eat a healthy diet at home (called the Thrifty Food Plan), and your benefit is the difference between that amount and 30% of your net income. For example, if the Thrifty Food Plan for your household is $800 per month and your net income is $1,000 per month, your benefit would be $800 minus $300 (which is 30% of $1,000), totaling $500 per month. If your net income is very low or zero, your benefit approaches the maximum for your household size.

Understanding these numbers matters because it shows why small income changes can significantly affect your benefits. If you increase your earnings by $100 per month, your SNAP benefit typically decreases by $30, not $100. This reduction is called the "benefit reduction rate," and it means earning more money does not cause a one-to-one loss of benefits. Several states have also experimented with eliminating or reducing the asset test—the rule that limits how much savings or other resources you can have and still receive SNAP—recognizing that this barrier keeps people from building financial stability.

Practical takeaway: SNAP income limits and benefit amounts depend on household size, gross income, and allowable deductions. Understanding how deductions work can help you grasp why your benefit might be different from someone else's with similar income.

Who May Be Considered for SNAP and Common Eligibility Rules

SNAP is available to U.S. citizens and certain non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees. Undocumented immigrants are not permitted to receive SNAP under federal law. Age requirements specify that at least one household member must be age 18 or older, with some exceptions for minors living independently or in certain situations. Work requirements also apply in many states, though people who are elderly, disabled, have dependent children under age 6, or are pregnant or nursing may be exempt from these requirements.

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Work requirements have been a point of change in recent years. In 2023, the Trump administration ended a pandemic-era waiver that had suspended work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents between ages 18 and 49. This meant these individuals generally needed to work or participate in work-related activities for at least 20 hours per week to continue receiving SNAP. However, various states manage these requirements differently, and some states have sought waivers or exceptions based on their local labor market conditions. If you lose your job or reduce your hours below 20 per week, you may lose SNAP benefits unless you find new work or your state has granted a waiver.

Household composition rules state that people who purchase and prepare food together are considered one household for SNAP purposes. College students living on campus but purchasing food separately from their parents would typically be counted as their own household. Elderly parents living with adult children but buying their own groceries would typically be a separate household