(LOOTPRESS) – Even with the federal government shutdown underway, scheduled changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) took effect Oct. 1 — the start of both the month and the federal fiscal year.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides monthly benefits to help low-income individuals and families afford groceries.
Each October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture adjusts SNAP benefit levels to account for cost-of-living increases.
This year’s adjustment brought only modest changes. For most households in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the increase amounts to less than 2%, while grocery prices have risen nearly 3% over the past year.
A single recipient will now receive up to $298 per month, just $6 more than before. A family of four will see their maximum monthly benefit rise from $975 to $994, an increase of $19.
The new maximum monthly benefits as of Oct. 1, 2025, are as follows:
| Household Size | Maximum Benefit | Previous Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $298 | $292 |
| 2 | $546 | $536 |
| 3 | $785 | $768 |
| 4 | $994 | $975 |
| 5 | $1,183 | $1,158 |
| 6 | $1,421 | $1,390 |
| 7 | $1,571 | $1,536 |
| 8 | $1,789 | $1,756 |
| Each additional person | $218 | $220 |
In states and territories where food costs are higher — including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — benefit levels differ.
In some rural parts of Alaska, a family of four can now receive up to $1,995 a month. However, households in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands actually saw decreases this year, with the maximum payment for a family of four dropping by $34 and $24, respectively.
Eligibility for SNAP depends on household income, assets, and other factors such as employment status, age, disability, and immigration status.
Generally, individuals earning less than $1,696 per month or families of four earning less than $3,483 per month may qualify for benefits.
In addition to the annual cost-of-living changes, several new policies under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 also took effect this month.
The law, passed over the summer, makes broader adjustments to SNAP that critics say could reduce access to food aid over time.
Among the new provisions are expanded work requirements, the elimination of an obesity prevention program, and increased state responsibility for program administration costs.
The act also removes eligibility for some legally present immigrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking.
While the changes bring only minor increases to benefit amounts, advocacy groups warn that the new restrictions could leave thousands of Americans — particularly vulnerable families and individuals — with fewer resources to afford basic groceries.
