SNAP Benefits Changes Start Thursday: Here’s What It Means for Your Wallet

Major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program take effect Thursday for millions of Americans.

In the short term, most beneficiaries will see a slight increase in payments for shopping. But in the coming months, households could face stricter eligibility requirements.

Every year on October 1, the federal government adjusts its monthly SNAP benefits to account for inflation.

In the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia, the maximum monthly benefit for a single-person household increases from $298 to $306. For a family of four, the maximum increases from $994 to $1,023. Actual benefits vary based on household income, size, and expenses, and maximum amounts are higher in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Annual adjustments are intended to account for changes in food costs.

Trump law shifts costs to states

At the same time, states must begin paying 75 percent of SNAP administrative costs, up from 50 percent, while the federal government’s share drops to 25 percent.

These expenses include the work of administering the program, rather than the food benefits filed for beneficiaries. Federal law is also expected to require certain states to contribute to the cost of benefits starting in October 2027, based on their payment error rates.

The changes stem from a 2025 tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump.

Benefits increase and cost-shifting between states begins as the federal fiscal year begins Thursday.

Fewer people receiving SNAP benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known informally as food stamps, provides monthly payments to help low-income residents purchase food.

More than 37 million people nationwide received SNAP benefits in March, according to preliminary figures from the USDA.

This represents a drop of almost 5 million people – more than 11% – from the previous year.