Food Stamp Benefits Increasing October 1st
Benefits paid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – or SNAP – commonly known as food stamps, are increasing October 1st. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the increased COLA based on the rate of inflation.
The year’s changes are based on the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for June of 2022. Based on that data SNAP benefits will increase by an average of more than 3% for 12 months starting in October.
For a family of four, the COLA means benefits of $973 a month – up from the current $939.
Here are the breakdowns of new benefit amounts based on family size from the USDA:
- Household size 1 – $291
- Household size 2 – $535
- Household size 3 – $766
- Household size 4 – $973
- Household size 5 – $1,155
- Household size 6 – $1,386
- Household size 7 – $1,532
- Household size 8 – $1,751
Each additional person adds $219.
Monthly income eligibility has changed, too. The new amounts are:
- Household size 1 – $1,580
- Household size 2 – $2,137
- Household size 3 – $2,694
- Household size 4 – $3,250
- Household size 5 – $3,807
- Household size 6 – $4,364
- Household size 7 – $4,921
- Household size 8 – $5,478
Each additional person accounts for $557 in income eligibility.
