Maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will increase by nearly three percent in most of the United States beginning Oct. 1, although the amount individual households receive will continue to depend on their income, size, and allowable expenses.
Maximum monthly benefits in the 48 states and Washington will increase to $562 for a two-person household, $808 for three people, $1,217 for five people, $1,463 for six people, $1,616 for seven people, and $1,841 for eight people. For households with nine to 17 members, the maximum will increase by $225 for each additional person. The maximum benefit will be capped at $3,887 for households with 18 or more people, according to USDA.
However, not every SNAP recipient will receive the maximum or the same increase.
Federal income limits will also increase on Oct. 1. The gross monthly income limit for a four-person household will be $3,575 under the standard federal test, while the net limit will be $2,750. But some states use expanded eligibility policies, and special rules apply to households containing an older adult or person with a disability.
Deductions used to calculate benefits will also rise. In the 48 states and Washington, the standard monthly deduction for households of up to three people will increase to $217. The maximum excess shelter deduction will rise to $769, according to the USDA.
Benefit amounts differ in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maximum benefits will rise in Alaska, Guam, and the Virgin Islands but decrease in Hawaii. A four-person household in Hawaii will qualify for a maximum of $1,655, down $34 from the current maximum of $1,689.
Thirty-seven percent of SNAP households received the maximum benefit for their size in fiscal year 2024. Another 9 percent received the minimum benefit, while 54 percent received an adjusted amount in between, according to the USDA.
