Millions of households on food assistance will see new numbers on their case files this fall. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed a cost-of-living adjustment for SNAP, starting October 1, 2026.
The change affects maximum monthly payments, income limits, and deductions. It runs through September 30, 2027.
In the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the new maximum monthly SNAP benefit rises to $306 for one person. A family of four can get up to $1,023. That is up from $994 the year before.
Here is the full chart for the 48 states and D.C.:
- 1 person: $306
- 2 people: $562
- 3 people: $808
- 4 people: $1,023
- 5 people: $1,217
- 6 people: $1,463
- 7 people: $1,616
- 8 people: $1,841
- Each person after that: $225 more
- Households of 18 or more: capped at $3,887
Not everyone will get the maximum amount. SNAP benefits depend on household size, income, and allowed deductions. A household with more countable income after deductions gets a smaller payment. USDA calculates most benefits by subtracting about 30% of a household’s net income from the maximum allotment for its size.
Other numbers are changing too. The minimum monthly benefit for small households rises to $25. The standard deduction goes up for every household size. The maximum shelter deduction climbs to $769. The asset limit for households with a member who is 60 or older, or disabled, rises to $4,750. The general asset limit stays at $3,000.
Income limits are rising as well. In the 48 states and D.C., the gross income limit for a family of four moves to $3,575 a month. The net income limit for that same household rises to $2,750.
The increase is not the same everywhere. Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also see higher maximum payments, each with its own chart. Hawaii is the exception. Its maximum benefit for a family of four actually drops to $1,655, down from the prior year.
This adjustment happens every year. USDA bases it on the Thrifty Food Plan, its estimate of what nutritious food costs a family of four. It is not a stimulus payment, a bonus, or an emergency benefit.
Most current SNAP recipients will not need to reapply. State agencies apply the new figures to existing cases automatically. Recipients should still watch for a notice from their state and complete any required recertification on time.
The exact day a new deposit appears on an EBT card depends on each state’s own payment schedule. That schedule usually follows a case number or last name, not a single national date.
USDA outlined all these changes in an August 21, 2026 memo to state agencies. Full details are available on USDA’s website.
