Low-income households meeting a certain threshold may qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits in their respective states.
SNAP provides food security for over 40 million people across the United States, which varies from state to state for average payments per household. Eligibility requirements and benefit levels are the same across all 50 states and territories except Alaska and Hawaii.
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Here is a guideline for how SNAP benefits are calculated, average payments per state, and the best way to maximize SNAP benefits.
Calculating eligibility for SNAP benefits
SNAP benefits are calculated based on household income and size. The recipient's household income generally must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. In fiscal 2023, the poverty line used to calculate SNAP benefits is $1,920 a month.
The guidelines also state that households without a member aged 60 or older or a disability must have assets of $2,750 or less, and households with such a member must have assets of $4,250 or less.
SNAP counts cash income from several sources, including earned income (before deducting payroll taxes) and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support. Assets, such as bank accounts, count toward SNAP benefit eligibility, but things like a home, personal property, retirement savings, and most automobiles do not count.
An average monthly SNAP benefit for a household of three is $577, with a maximum of $740. An average payment for a household of eight is $1,150, with a maximum of $1,691. Any household higher than eight can be calculated by adding a maximum of $211 per additional person.
People who are not eligible for SNAP benefits include people on strike, all individuals without a documented immigration status, some students attending college more than half the time, and certain immigrants who are lawfully present in the U.S.
Unemployed adults aged 18 to 49 years old who do not have children in the home and who do not have disabilities are limited to three months of SNAP benefits every three years in many areas of the country. Following the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in June, work requirements to receive food stamps every month now apply to those aged 18 and 55 years old, unless the recipient has veteran status, is a homeless person, or is under 24 and aging out of the foster care system.
Average payments per household member per month, by state
Alabama: $183
Alaska: $271
Arizona: $183
Arkansas: $170
California: $196
Colorado: $181
Connecticut: $197
Delaware: $175
District of Columbia: $188
Florida: $180
Georgia: $188
Hawaii: $385
Idaho: $175
Illinois: $189
Indiana: $182
Iowa: $170
Kansas: $171
Kentucky: $177
Louisiana: $192
Maine: $168
Maryland: $180
Massachusetts: $188
Michigan: $181
Minnesota: $157
Mississippi: $171
Missouri: $185
Montana: $177
Nebraska: $178
Nevada: $178
New Hampshire: $162
New Jersey: $179
New Mexico: $182
New York: $196
North Carolina: $181
North Dakota: $185
Ohio: $186
Oklahoma: $183
Oregon: $181
Pennsylvania: $182
Rhode Island: $183
South Carolina: $181
South Dakota: $192
Tennessee: $185
Texas: $179
Utah: $179
Vermont: $188
Virginia: $181
Washington: $168
West Virginia: $168
Wisconsin: $164
Wyoming: $179
Maximizing SNAP benefits
Double SNAP dollars at farmer's markets
In several states, households can double the value of their SNAP benefits by spending them at participating farmer's markets and stores.
Residents can search online for SNAP Double Dollars or Double Up Food Bucks in their state to see which markets participate in the program.
Buy in bulk
Buying favorite food items in bulk can help families with SNAP benefits generate big savings if the household can afford it. Monthly stipends may not be enough to buy in bulk every month, but saving some funds could allow for purchasing bulk items in the future.
Recipients should stagger bulk buying based on what items are needed each month if they can. Households who bought rice in bulk one month should buy pasta or beans a few months later.
Make a shopping list
Everyone is subject to impulse purchases, and shopping on a SNAP benefit budget makes it harder to deviate from the necessary items.
Creating a list and sticking to it can help avoid food waste, reduce stress, and make it easier to stick to a budget.
Create a meal plan
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Meal prepping can also be a way to generate a shopping list and stretch out food items over days.
Recipients of SNAP benefits should also buy food staples, such as rice, canned beans, and frozen vegetables. These items can be used in several dishes.