As the pages of the calendar turn to welcome the year 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares for its annual ritual: adjusting the parameters of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In an effort to stay in sync with the continually changing economic landscape, the USDA takes on the responsibility of reassessing SNAP’s highest allocations, deductions, and income qualification criteria at the start of each new federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1st.
The concept of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This intricate metric measures the financial requisites necessary to sustain a fundamental standard of living. As the curtains rise on 2024, the USDA takes a calculated stride forward by ushering in augmented maximum allotments and fortified shelter caps for the majority of US states and territories, where the food stamps are disbursed.
Exciting Changes Coming to SNAP Benefits
Let’s take a look at the upcoming changes to food stamps. Maximum allotments across the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands experience an important increment. Only the tranquil shores of Hawaii witness a receding wave, with SNAP recipients facing a $35 decrease in their allotments.
Peering through the lens of statistics, the following figures emerge as the zenith of SNAP allotments for a four-member family, in accordance with the annals of the USDA website:
- Guam: $1,434.
- Alaska: $1,248 to $1,937.
- 48 states and D.C.: $973.
- Hawaii: $1,759.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: $1,251.
Shelter cap values, akin to the keystone of an arch, hold the potential to uphold or crumble the financial structure of SNAP recipients. These values encompass deductions related to rent, repair costs, and utilities, surpassing fifty percent of the recipients’ net income when the intricate calculations of benefits unfold.
It’s noteworthy that unless a member of the household bears the mantle of age or disability, the shelter cap experiences an elevation by $48, reaching up to $672, all within the boundaries of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Furthermore, the crescendo of the homeless shelter deduction resonates at $179.66. Glancing at the horizon of figures, the following numeric sequences unveil the paramount shelter deductions for the epoch of 2024:
- 48 states and D.C.: $672.
- Alaska: $1,073.
- Hawaii: $905.
- Guam: $789.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: $529.
Nestled within the confines of the financial landscape, the resource limit steadfastly retains its unchanged form at $2,750, in all the states and territories. But, when there’s a disabled or elder member in the household, the threshold remains at $4,250.
Let’s break down the finances of a regular family with four members to get a better understanding. They have about $973 to spend every month, which roughly comes down to $8 per person per day. But we should keep in mind that SNAP benefits were never meant to cover all of a family’s food expenses.
Despite that, a recent study by the Urban Institute, known for its data crunching, found that the average cost of a decent meal was $3.14 by the end of 2022. That’s a 15% increase from what SNAP provides. Here’s the kicker: In nearly all counties, 99% to be exact, SNAP benefits weren’t enough to cover the cost of a meal.
How often are SNAP benefit amounts adjusted?
Benefit amounts are adjusted annually in October to account for inflation. These adjustments are calculated by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and impact maximum benefit allotments, income, resource eligibility standards, and annual deductions.
The maximum benefit is calculated based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which is a Department of Agriculture estimate of how much it costs to provide nutritious, low-cost meals for a household. The benefit amount is adjusted up or down based on the number of people in the household.
How are shelter cap values calculated?
The Shelter Cap Value is a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States. It is an amount set to provide assistance to families for their shelter-related expenses. This value is modified annually according to the Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) as per the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
The shelter cap value is determined by the fiscal year’s COLA and is effective as of October 1 of the preceding year. For example, the shelter cap value for the fiscal year 2023 was increased by $27 to $624 for the 48 states and D.C. The shelter cap values for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also increased.
The calculation of the shelter cap value is part of a broader system of adjustments that include maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. The COLAs for these are attached for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each region has specific adjustments based on the cost of living and other factors specific to the area.
How much does a four-member family receive in SNAP benefits per day?
The amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits a four-member family receives per day depends on several factors, including the family’s net income and allowable deductions. The maximum and average benefits also vary from year to year due to changes in the cost of living and government policies.
In 2023, for example, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of four was $973. This equates to approximately $8 per person per day. However, it’s important to remember that many households do not receive the maximum benefit amount. The amount a household receives depends on a number of factors, including income and location.
For a more precise calculation, SNAP expects families receiving benefits to spend 30 percent of their net income on food. For households with net income, the monthly SNAP benefit equals the maximum benefit for that household size minus the household’s expected contribution of 30 percent of its net income.
In how many counties did SNAP benefits fail to cover the cost of a meal in the past?
In 2020, before the change to the Thrifty Food Stamps Plan, the maximum SNAP benefit did not cover the average cost of a modestly priced meal in 96 percent of US counties. The 20 counties with the largest gap between maximum SNAP benefits and modestly priced meals included high-cost urban areas, such as New York and San Francisco, as well as smaller rural counties, such as Blaine County, Idaho; El Dorado County, California; and Leelanau County, Michigan.
However, the situation improved somewhat in 2021. On October 1, 2021, the US Department of Agriculture increased the maximum SNAP benefit by 21 percent. This increase helped close the gap between SNAP benefits and meal costs, but it did not close it for everyone. After the increase, the maximum SNAP benefit fell short of meal costs in 21 percent of US counties.
By 2022, despite the COLA made to SNAP benefits, the food-assistance program fell short in covering families’ meals amid rising food costs. Before the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment (January to September 2022), the maximum SNAP benefit did not cover the cost of a modestly priced meal in 99 percent of US counties.
Do I have to recertify food stamp to continue claiming the funds?
Certainly, you must undergo the recertification process to maintain your SNAP benefits for 2024, including any additional assistance you may receive. Recertification is a necessary step to confirm your ongoing eligibility for SNAP benefits. Because program requirements evolve periodically, and individuals’ financial circumstances may fluctuate, each state mandates regular recertification.
Note that these benefits are not automatic, and individuals must recertify their eligibility to continue receiving them. The recertification process is similar to the initial application process for SNAP benefits, but you better take a look at the official USDA website before doing it.