According to Marca, If you’re a recipient of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Florida, there’s positive news for the upcoming year. A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has been applied to SNAP benefits, offering much-needed financial relief to low-income households as they manage rising living costs.
When Will the SNAP Increase Take Effect?
As of October 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented new maximum payment amounts for Florida beneficiaries, as well as for all SNAP recipients across 49 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories. These increased benefits will remain in place throughout the 2025 fiscal year, helping families cope with ongoing inflation.
Higher SNAP Benefits for Specific Regions
While all states except Hawaii are seeing increases, beneficiaries in regions with a higher cost of living, such as Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will receive even greater SNAP benefits.
Hawaii, however, is an exception to this trend, experiencing a reduction in maximum benefits due to a lower cost of living adjustment.
SNAP Benefit Increases by Household Size
Although the SNAP increase may seem modest, it helps families keep up with inflation. After the COLA adjustment, the new maximum allotments for SNAP benefits in Florida and most other states are as follows:
- 1-person household: $292 per month
- 2-person household: $536 per month
- 3-person household: $768 per month
- 4-person household: $975 per month
- 5-person household: $1,158 per month
- 6-person household: $1,390 per month
- 7-person household: $1,536 per month
- 8-person household: $1,756 per month
For households with more than eight members, each additional person will add $220 to the monthly allotment.
Payment Dates for October 2024
The exact date when you’ll receive the increased benefits depends on your state or territory. While some states distribute payments as early as October 1, others stagger payments throughout the month.
Here are a few examples of October 2024 SNAP payment schedules:
- California: October 1-10
- Florida: October 1-28
- Texas: October 1-28
- New York: October 1-9
