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By Aliss Higham
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New maximum payment amounts for SNAP benefits have been announced by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
In October this year, the top amount available for claimants of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will increase across 49 states and U.S. territories, while one state will see its maximum benefit drop. The new maximum rates will be in place for the duration of the 2025 fiscal year until the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is set again for the 2026 fiscal year.
SNAP provides monthly financial assistance to low-income households across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories. These funds are delivered via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used at participating stores, and are paid monthly.
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Benefit recipients will have to wait a few months to see an increase, as changes will be in place from October 1 onward, the FNS has confirmed. The Food Action and Research Center says around 36 percent of households that get SNAP benefits receive the maximum allotment.
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48 States and Washington D.C.
Across the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C. the maximum amount available to an individual claimant living on their own will rise to $292 per month, up by $1 from $291. For a household with four people, it will increase by $2 from $973 per month to $975.
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Alaska
How much a SNAP recipient gets in Alaska is slightly different to elsewhere in the U.S., with payment amounts decided dependent on whether you live in an urban or rural area, which is based on housing population density.
Urban
- Single-person household: $377
- Four-person household: $1,258
Rural 1
- Single-person household: $481
- Four-person household: $1,604
Rural 2:
- Single-person household: $586
- Four-person household: $1,953
Hawaii
Single-household Hawaii residents claiming SNAP will actually see the maximum allotment lowered to $517, down from $527. Four-person households will also see a decrease, from $1,759 per month to $1,723, a change of $36.
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Guam
In Guam, a single claimant who can currently claim a maximum of $430 will get $431 beginning later this year. A standard family of four will be able to claim a top rate of $1,437, up from $1,434.
U.S. Virgin Islands
From October, one-person households in the U.S. Virgin Islands can get a maximum benefit of $376, slightly higher than $375 for the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year. For a four-person household, the highest amount available will be boosted by $3, from $1,251 to $1,254.
Anyone wanting to know if they qualify for SNAP benefits must apply in their state of residence and must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are outlined by the USDA on its website. Rules can vary between states because SNAP is administered at state and local level, while the funds are provided by the federal government.
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