Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program saw their benefits shrink in 2023 in comparison to recent years due to a pandemic-era program ending.

Emergency allotments for SNAP were added on to regular funds for beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have now ended.

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The last emergency allotments were distributed with benefits in February, with March being the first month that recipients saw their SNAP benefit amounts return to pre-pandemic levels.

During the emergency allotment period, beneficiaries saw their SNAP benefits increase by either $95 or "an additional benefit valued up to the maximum benefit for their household size." Under this policy, the Department of Agriculture would give beneficiaries whichever option was greater.

The maximum SNAP allotment for a household of one person is $281 in the contiguous United States for fiscal 2023, with allotments being based on an individual's household size and income. For a household of four people, the maximum allotment is $939 in the contiguous U.S. for fiscal 2023.

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The reversion to pre-2020 allotments may be just the start of changes to SNAP with debt ceiling negotiations currently unfolding. As part of the negotiations, Republicans are seeking to increase work requirements for individuals to be eligible for SNAP benefits.

Non-disabled adults between the ages of 18 and 49 must work 20 hours per week to be eligible for SNAP if they do not have any dependents. The GOP proposal in debt ceiling negotiations would expand that requirement by putting 50- to 55-year-olds under the work requirement.