Due to the pandemic, households that get help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have been given extra emergency SNAP benefits since March 2020. This means that households will get extra benefits up to the maximum amount for their size of household or $95, whichever is higher.
Here’s a good way to find out if you’re affected:
My family already gets the most SNAP benefits for our size of family (see table below):
- You will get an extra $95 a month from SNAP for emergencies.
- My family doesn’t get the most for the size of our family: You will get either $95 or the maximum amount of benefits for your family size.
- The extra SNAP payment for October 2022 will come as a supplement on or around October 4th.
The Cola Increase Will Give Everyone a Little Extra
Thanks to the annual cost of living adjustment, everyone will get more food stamps in October 2022. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 says that COLA changes take effect every year on October 1. Due to the high rate of inflation, we’ve been having, the increase this year is big.
According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, prices for groceries (food to be cooked or eaten at home) went up 12.2% in the year ending June 2022. That’s the biggest increase in 12 months since April 1979.”
You’re not the only one who feels like their SNAP benefits don’t go as far as they used to. The CBPP said that the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, which is what the food stamp amounts are based on, was $939.90 per month for a family of four in June 2022, up from $835 the previous June. For a family of four, that’s a difference of more than $100 per month.
The good news is that the prices will go up on October 1. The following is what the USDA says about the increase:
| REGION | MAX BENEFITS FOR A FAMILY OF 4 |
| 48 Contiguous States & DC | $939 |
| Alaska | $1,819 |
| Hawai’i | $1,794 |
| US Virgin Islands | $1,208 |
The minimum benefit will go up to $23 for the 48 states and DC. The minimum will also go up in all other areas.
Along with this, some of the income and deductions will also be changed to account for inflation. Changes will also be made to the shelter cap value, the maximum homeless shelter deduction, the minimum standard deduction, and the resource limits.
This will help more people get food stamps, and it will also increase your benefits because more of your income can be taken into account. Check out our other videos to learn more about how food benefits are calculated.
Some States Are Still Getting Extra Food Stamps From the EA
Many states are still giving out extra benefits that were made possible by Emergency Allotments during the pandemic. If you’re wondering, “Are we getting more food stamps this month?” The answer really depends on where you live, since each state handles these extra benefits differently.
How to Buy Groceries Online with Kentucky EBT https://t.co/tz7xuxIVCE pic.twitter.com/qAgNSsyD1p
— Food Stamps Now (@Foodstampshelp) May 4, 2020
Even more complicated is the fact that states have until the 15th of each month to finish their paperwork. We’ll keep making changes to this post until the end of the month to make sure it’s correct and up-to-date.
Which States Are Getting Extra Food Stamps in October 2022?
Many states have been given permission to give out more benefits in October 2022, but each state can decide when to do so. Some people do it all in one day, while others do it at different times. Some people send it even a month after they give their approval.
The list below shows which states have been approved and which days people in those states will get more food stamps. States that are written in bold have just been added.
- Illinois (Oct 21-29)
- Kansas (Oct 22-31)
- Louisiana (Oct 8, 15, 22, and 29)
- Maine (Oct 7)
- Maryland (Oct 4-23)
- Massachusetts (Oct 4)
- Michigan (Oct 15-24)
- Minnesota (Oct 11-27)
- New Hampshire (Oct 4 & 21)
- New Jersey (Oct 1-5)
- New Mexico (Oct 1-31)
- New York (Oct 6-20 upstate, or Oct 14-27 for NYC)
- North Carolina (Oct 22-31)
- Ohio (Oct 27)
- Oklahoma (Oct 10-15)
- Oregon (Oct 10)
- Pennsylvania (Oct 18-29)
- Rhode Island (Oct 3)
- South Carolina (Oct 1-19)
- Texas (Oct 4-10)
- Utah (Oct 29)
- Vermont (Oct 14)
- Virgin Islands (Oct 15)
- Virginia (Oct 16)
- Washington (Oct 4-20)
- Washington DC (regular date)
- West Virginia (Oct 4)
- Wisconsin (Oct 15)
- Alabama (Nov 1)
- California (Oct 15)
- Colorado (Oct 6-12)
- Connecticut (Oct 14)
- Delaware (Oct 26)
- Guam (Oct 21)
- Hawaii (Oct 10)
Which States Are Not Getting Extra Food Stamps in October 2022?
The following states will NOT get extra aid in October 2022 because their state health emergencies have already ended.
SNAP Reminder: No Action or Interview is Currently Needed IF: You have not received a notice or phone call from DHS about an interview appointment; or you received a notice stating that your application has been approved/denied or your benefits will be renewed. pic.twitter.com/SM3cudRqHh
— RI DHS (@RIHumanServices) November 2, 2022
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
The paperwork is usually turned in by the Virgin Islands and Guam at the end of the month.
Why Do Some States Get Extra Food Stamps and Not Others?
The amount of extra food stamps your state gets this month depends on a few things. Basically, states can keep giving out these waivers until either the federal or state government stops calling COVID-19 a public health emergency.
The extra benefits can’t be given to states that have ended their health declarations before the federal government ends it. So, since 2020, some states have not given out extra benefits.
Until the federal government ends its public health order, states that keep their health declaration will be able to give out more food stamps. The government has promised that states will have at least 60 days to prepare for the change before the order ends.
How to Buy Groceries Online with Arizona EBT Card https://t.co/QjqGtjgERN pic.twitter.com/9tI4Aowe21
— Food Stamps Now (@Foodstampshelp) April 29, 2020
When either the state or the federal government ends the public health emergency, states will be able to give one last month of transitional benefits before going back to the normal, lower amount.
What About P-EBT?
P-EBT, or Pandemic EBT, is an extra food benefit for kids who normally get free or low-cost school meals. If you want to know more about P-EBT benefits for your child(ren), please look at our P-EBT Guide and Schedule.
