The month of April is approaching, and food stamp payments are starting to get ready to be sent to America’s working families who need it so badly to make ends meet. The payment schedule for SNAP benefits is now ready and published by the USDA, the entity in charge of managing this program and its budget. In another article we recently showed the payment dates of the state of Alabama, and now we are going to talk about Alaska.
In the so-called Last Frontier state, food stamp payments are higher than in other states (with the exception of Hawaii, which also has differentiated values) due to the cost of living for Alaskans. As every month, the benefits will be sent to the beneficiaries’ EBT cards on the 1st of the month, that is, on April 1, 2024.
How Much Will I Get in 2024 in SNAP Benefits?
Unlike the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC, Alaska has three different value tables: Urban, Rural 1 and Rural 2. In the Urban table, the beneficiaries will receive during the fiscal year 2024 the following values, depending on the size of the household (number of people):
- 1 person: $374
- 2 people: $686
- 3 people: $983
- 4 people: $1,248
- 5 people: $1,482
- 6 people: $1,778
- 7 people: $1,966
- 8 people: $2,246
- Each additional person: $281
Now, for the beneficiaries who live in the areas classified as Rural 1 and Rural 2, the values are as follows:
- 1 person: $477 / $581
- 2 people: $875 / $1,065
- 3 people: $1,253 / $1,525
- 4 people: $1,591 / $1,937
- 5 people: $1,890 / $2,300
- 6 people: $2,268 / $2,760
- 7 people: $2,506 / $3,051
- 8 people: $2,865 / $3,487
- Each additional person: $358 / $436
What Can I Buy With SNAP Benefits in Alaska?
The Food Champions are accepted in most U.S. retail stores and supermarkets, which are usually identified with some badge of the program. It can also be used digitally, with your EBT card, in virtual stores such as Amazon, Aldi (through Instacart), Giant, Safeway, and many more.
You can buy with your EBT card fresh food products that are intended to maintain the good health and nutrition of your family, and that includes fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, breads, cereals, canned foods, baby products (formulas and special foods), seeds and plants that produce food.
However, there are some restrictions on what cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, such as alcohol, tobacco, non-food products such as toilet paper or cleaning products, pet food, and ready-to-eat hot meals at the store.Your Quest card, which is what the EBT is called in Alaska, can also be used at properly identified Farmers Markets, and in many of their stands you can pay directly with it, as if you were using your credit or debit card, by means of a collection device.
