[Updated for Fiscal Year Boundaries 2023]The country's food stamp program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will effectively raise maximum allocation limits for all household sizes in 2023.
The US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service sets state administrative guidelines for the SNAP program, which helps feed more than 40 million Americans.
For 2023, the maximum allotment for the average family of four living in the contiguous 48 states or D.C. lives, to $939 from $835 last year. This is an adjustment of over 12%. See other increases in household size in the2023 maximum allocationTables later in this article.
AdditionallySNAP contingency quotas,available under the pandemic-related national health emergency declaration are still available in some states. For more information, see the relevant section below.
Covered in this article:
Eligibility and Application for SNAP
The SNAP program follows federal guidelines, but household eligibility is based on specific requirements (such as income thresholds shown below) that are set and paid for by individualsstate agencywhen you apply for benefits.
Your state agency or local SNAP office will usually process your application within 30 days and send you a letter confirming your eligibility and duration of benefit.
Your state SNAP agency may conduct additional verification of your information during the application period and may ask additional questions if necessary. Therefore, be sure to respond promptly to calls or official communications.
All benefits will be backdated to the time you claim benefits and you will be paid any retroactive benefits upon your first deposit.
When are SNAP benefits paid?
While the program is federally funded, it is administered by each state. You will need to check your state's SNAP/Food Stamp page (google it) to determine when your state should automatically load your benefits onto the state-approved Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit card.
Generally, it is based on your first or last name and is loaded by your state agency on set dates each month.
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You can use your EBT card to purchase approved groceries and related items from shops and retailers. This includes the following:
| Approved SNAP Articles | You cannot use SNAP for the following items |
| - Fruits and vegetables; – Meat, poultry and fish; - Dairy products; – bread and muesli; – Other foods such as snacks and soft drinks; and Seeds and plants that produce food for the home. | – Beer, wine, spirits, cigarettes or tobacco – Vitamins, medicines and dietary supplements. – Most living animals – Prepared meals suitable for immediate consumption - Warm food All non-food items such as: pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products and toiletries |
2023 Maximum SNAP Benefits
The table below shows the maximum monthly SNAP award by household size for the 48 states and D.C. It applies to the period of the 2023 financial yearOctober 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023
| household size | Maximum monthly allocation |
|---|---|
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | 1.116 $ |
| 6 | 1.339 $ |
| 7 | 1.480 $ |
| 8 | 1.691 $ |
| Any additional member | $211 |
Thatminimum utilityfor the 48 states and D.C. will rise to $23 and will also rise in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and US Virgin Islands.
SeeThis video provides more information on the above changes.
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2023 Income Eligibility Standards
The USDA has also completed the following standard monthly income eligibility tables for fiscal year 2023.
In general, your household must meet bothGross and Net Income Limitsas described below to be eligible for SNAP benefits. An exception are households with an elderly or disabled person who only have to meet the net income limit.
Calculation of Actual SNAP Allocation
Your maximum SNAP allocation could be lower than the maximum even if you meet the above income thresholds, since SNAP households are expected to spend approximately 30% of their own resources on food. This notice includes the temporary SNAP Pandemic benefit discussed below.
Your actual allocation is calculated by multiplying your household net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allocation for your household size.
So, for example, if Mary and Joe, who have 3 children, have a net monthly income of $2,000, their actual allocation is $3,518 (maximum allocation for a 5-person household) – 30% * 2000 minus = $2,918.
SNAP Pandemic Payments - Contingency Quotas
Pursuant to Bident's recent executive order extending the national health emergency by 15% (minimum $95)SNAP Pandemic Contingency Boostis available through February 2023 in states that choose to participate in this program.
This is updated month to month and proUSDAit currently includes:
✅Add your EBT or P-EBT card to Amazon to buy your groceries
I will update the spreadsheet monthly and you canSubscribe to(free) to get the latest updates.
Public health emergencies are being extended by 90 days at a time, and the Biden administration recently extended the current COVID-induced emergency through February next year.
As long as individual states have established state-level emergency declarations and elect to participate in this program, they can continue to provide these monthly emergency SNAP allocations.
States not listed above, such as Florida and Texas, do not have the contingency quotas because they have not opted into the contingency boost program.
Last year updates
2022 Maximum SNAP Benefits
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers the SNAP program, confirmed the 2022 increase, at the direction of the Biden administration, which reflects higher costs for nutritious diets in line with rising food prices.
This will bring the average monthly total for fiscal 2022 to $169 and marks the largest sustained increase (25%) in food aid available to families in need.
The table below shows the maximum monthly SNAP allocation by household size. It is valid for the period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.
| household size | Maximum monthly allocation |
|---|---|
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | 1.190 $ |
| 7 | 1.316 $ |
| 8 | 1.504 $ |
| Any additional member | $188 |
[Update 2020]As part of President Biden's new economic agenda, he signed onesupreme commandDirection from US Department of Agriculture to allow states to increase SNAP (food stamp) benefits by 15%. Per the update below, Congress had increased the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%, but that didn't help the 40% of SNAP recipients who already had the maximum benefit. If states follow the updated guidance, an additional 12 million people would receive the expanded benefits.
As part of his proposal for America's bailout plan, President Biden is asking Congress to provide additional support to ensure all Americans, regardless of background, have access to healthy, affordable food...to help women, infants and children who are to get food they need. The USDA will consider issuing new guidance that would allow states to increase SNAP contingency quotas for those who need them most.
2020 – 2021 Increase in COVID Relief Act (Congress Passed)
Below the recently passed $900 billionCOVID-HilfsrechnungProvided $13 billion in additional funding for the SNAP/Food Stamp program, which increases maximum benefits through the food relief program through June 30, 2021 - Tafel15% increase in monthly SNAP benefitsfor the next six months, beginning in January. 1. 2021. This will benefit approximately 43 million Americans who receive food stamps. The package also expands SNAP benefit eligibility to lower-income college students, while older people will see increased funding for the Older Americans Act's nutrition programs ($175 million).
[September 2020]With no new stimulus package currently approved by a divided Congress, the following COVID SNAP adjustments are still available:
Notkontingente (EA): States may issue emergency allowances to SNAP households, which typically receive less than the maximum benefit.
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT): States can provide benefits (similar to SNAP or “meal stamps”) to children who normally receive free or discounted school meals.
SNAP online shopping: The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) quickly expanded SNAP online shopping to support social distancing, allowing access to nearly three-quarters of the states, representing 90% of SNAP households.
Extend certification periods by up to 6 monthsand adjust the requirements for periodic reporting for some or all households. This option is only available for households whose certification periods are expiring or whose periodic reports are due on or before June 30, 2021.
[Update on Additional SNAP Benefits]Among the recently proposedact HEROESHouse Democrats have included a provision to increase the maximumSNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Payment advantage of 15%. This is designed to help low-income earners cope with rising food costs resulting from supply chain disruptions and production shortages.
The HEROs Act and the provisions within it are likely to undergo much debate and amendment as there is strong opposition from moderate Democrats and Republicans concerned about the skyrocketing federal deficit. But unless the economy improves and unemployment falls, or there is a significant resurgence of the coronavirus later this year, it seems almost certain that a second stimulus package will be passed. I'll post updates as they come to light.
Additional funds were provided under thecare stimulus law,which provides some important program funding to many middle- and low-income American families. The most important provisions include:
child nutrition: $8.8 billion allocated to schools to provide more flexibility in providing meals to students. Most areas where schools have been closed are now offering up to 2 free meals a day for school-age children. An additional $450 million was allocated for food banks and other community food distribution programs.
Grocery Stamps/SNAP:$15.5 billion will go to theSNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to cover the cost of new applications to the program as a result of the coronavirus.Note, however, that this will not increase the monthly benefits.Rather, it only provides additional federal funding for the likely surge in new applicants. Many wanted what they were looking for the minimumSNAPDoubling the power (to $30 per month) and a 20% increase in maximum power.
It is likely that the above program will see more relief in the next stimulus, so please subscribe using the options below to get the latest updates.