SNAP benefits: When will January 2024 payments arrive by state and what are the amounts?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is preparing to send out the first payments for the year 2024. SNAP gives out assistance provided by the government to eligible individuals and families with low incomes.

SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, are designed to help people afford a nutritionally adequate diet and reduce food insecurity.

The financial assistance is distributed on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card and can be used to buy eligible food items at authorized retailers, including grocery stores and farmers’ markets.

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SNAP benefits: What are the amounts for January 2024 payments?

States with higher levels of poverty usually send out SNAP benefits to a greater number of households. The amount they receive will vary by state, and depends on their income level, certain expenses, as well as other requirements.

Starting Oct. 1 this year, there has been a significant rise in the monthly payments for SNAP recipients. While an individual’s maximum SNAP benefit has increased from $281 to $291, the true effect of this adjustment is most evident in households with multiple members.

The USDA has introduced a revised maximum income table for these families, which will remain in effect until September 30, 2024. These amounts are a result of the recent cost-of-living adjustment for the coming year.

Except for Alaska and Hawaii, a household of one can receive a maximum monthly benefit of $291, a household of five can collect up to $1,155, while a household of eight can get up to $1,751. Each additional person can merit up to $219.

Here are the SNAP benefit amounts by household size:

SNAP benefits: When will January 2024 payments arrive by state?

The issuance dates for the assistance vary depending on the state, which is the body responsible for implementing the program. SNAP benefits are usually distributed to recipients on a monthly basis.

Each state has its own schedule for issuing benefits, and the distribution may be spread out over several days or weeks. Although the dates may vary from state to state, the payment distribution follows the same schedule from month to month.

The date on which beneficiaries receive their payment depends on several factors such as their birth date, Social Security number, case number, or last name.

Recipients living in Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont will be the first to collect their payments, which will arrive on Jan. 1.

Residents of all the other states as well as the District of Columbia can expect their payment throughout the first month of 2024.

Here is the payment schedule for all the states: