SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are a national federal program throughout the United States, both in the 51 states and in some affiliated territories such as Guam or the US Virgin Islands. This initiative is designed to help low-income individuals and families purchase nutritious foods. There is a list of fresh, canned, packaged and processed foods that are accepted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and are all designed for the good nutrition of American families.
Those who are already beneficiaries receive their payments every month on the same date, according to the schedule established by their state of residence. Month after month, their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards are automatically loaded with the allocated amount and beneficiaries can check their balance online, through mobile apps or by calling a designated number in each location.
Each family receives a different amount depending on several factors
The monthly allocations to each family vary depending on several factors, such as household size, income, assets, and also according to their place of residence. According to data provided to us by the USDA itself, the following are the maximum allocations in force at this time.
These amounts are in effect throughout fiscal year 2025, which began October 1, 2024 and ends November 30, 2025: All amounts were impacted by the cost of living adjustment (COLA), an increase that the USDA and others federal agencies apply to their allocations so that recipients do not lose purchasing power.
- Household size: 1 person
- 48 States and DC: $292
- Alaska (Urbano): $377
- Alaska (Rural 1): $481
- Alaska (Rural 2): $586
- Guam: $431
- Hawaii: $517
- Virgin Islands: $376
- Household size: 2 people
- 48 States and DC: $536
- Alaska (Urbano): $692
- Alaska (Rural 1): $882
- Alaska (Rural 2): $1,074
- Guam: $790
- Hawaii: $948
- Virgin Islands: $689
- Household size: 3 people
- 48 States and DC: $768
- Alaska (Urbano): $991
- Alaska (Rural 1): $1,263
- Alaska (Rural 2): $1,538
- Guam: $1,132
- Hawaii: $1,357
- Virgin Islands: $987
- Household size: 4 people
- 48 States and DC: $975
- Alaska (Urbano): $1,258
- Alaska (Rural 1): $1,604
- Alaska (Rural 2): $1,953
- Guam: $1,437
- Hawaii: $1,723
- Virgin Islands: $1,254
- Household size: 5 people
- 48 States and DC: $1,164
- Alaska (Urbano): $1,503
- Alaska (Rural 1): $1,918
- Alaska (Rural 2): $2,338
- Guam: $1,719
- Hawaii: $2,065
- Virgin Islands: $1,487
- Household size: 6 people
- 48 States and DC: $1,394
- Alaska (Urbano): $1,796
- Alaska (Rural 1): $2,292
- Alaska (Rural 2): $2,783
- Guam: $2,094
- Hawaii: $2,516
- Virgin Islands: $1,787
- Household size: 7 people
- 48 States and DC: $1,536
- Alaska (Urbano): $2,031
- Alaska (Rural 1): $2,527
- Alaska (Rural 2): $3,076
- Guam: $2,324
- Hawaii: $2,795
- Virgin Islands: $2,057
- Household size: 8 people
- 48 States and DC: $1,756
- Alaska (Urbano): $2,321
- Alaska (Rural 1): $2,883
- Alaska (Rural 2): $3,516
- Guam: $2,598
- Hawaii: $3,125
- Virgin Islands: $2,257
- Additional people (more than 8 people)
- 48 States and DC: +$220 per additional person
- Alaska (Urbano): +$283
- Alaska (Rural 1): +$361
- Alaska (Rural 2): +$440
- Guam: +$324
- Hawaii: +$388
- Virgin Islands: +$282
To apply for SNAP benefits, you can start by visiting the USDA website, where you will be able to use the free online tool to find your nearest SNAP office. They will guide you along the process and will ask all the required documents to back up your application. Here is the official USDA website for SNAP benefits: take a look and find all the data.
What types of food can be purchased with SNAP benefits?
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) guidelines allow households to use SNAP benefits to buy the following types of food:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
However, there are certain items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements (items with a Supplement Facts label)
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
- Foods that are hot at the point of sale
- Nonfood items like pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, and hygiene items, plus cosmetics.
