Here's How SNAP Benefits Will Change in 2024

If you rely on SNAP food benefits to keep food on the table for your household, the most pressing question on your mind is probably how much you will receive this year. You might also be concerned about how the government's budget negotiations could impact you.

The good news is that SNAP funding is mandatory -- lawmakers in Congress can't just take it away. However, the negotiations have already impacted SNAP eligibility for some people. Moreover, if the government shuts down because the politicians can't reach an agreement on spending, it could mean delays to your payments.

Read on to find out about SNAP benefit changes to watch out for in 2024.

1. SNAP benefit amount

SNAP benefits get adjusted each fiscal year to account for changes in living costs. The fiscal year starts in October, so you will already be receiving the increased benefit amount for 2024. Watch out for an announcement in August from the USDA setting out how much benefits might increase for 2025. The new amount will come into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

For the 2024 fiscal year, these are the maximum benefits in most states:

What it means for you

If you were hoping to receive extra money in 2024, you will have to wait until October to see any changes in your benefits. Look for ways to stretch your SNAP payments a little further, such as maximizing coupons and cash back apps to get extra discounts. It's also worth seeing if your state has a Double Up Food Bucks program, as these can get you two-for-one on fresh produce at participating stores.

If you have school-age kids, you might be able to get some extra assistance during the summer holidays. The USDA recently announced that 21 million children will benefit from its new, permanent Summer EBT program. Families in the 35 states that will participate can receive up to $40 per child to help them buy groceries while school's out.

2. SNAP eligibility requirements

Eligibility for SNAP largely depends on the assets you hold in your bank account, your income, and your work situation. Unless one of your household members is disabled or over 60, the maximum amount you can hold in your account is $2,750. This is unchanged from last year.

In terms of income, SNAP assessors will look at your gross monthly income (the amount you receive before taxes are taken out) and your net income (what you actually take home.) Both are calculated based on the U.S. poverty line. For the 2024 fiscal year, here are the maximum amounts households can earn each month and still be eligible.

The biggest change to SNAP eligibility in 2024 is the age threshold for work requirements. In addition to the standard work requirements, there's something called an Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work requirement. Essentially, if you're an able-bodied adult with no dependents and you aren't working or volunteering 80 hours a month, you can only claim three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period.

The ABAWD working requirements used to only apply to people between the ages of 18 and 50.

Last year's Fiscal Responsibility Act increased the upper age limit to 52 in October 2023, and 54 in 2024. Many states waived work requirements during the pandemic, but the new legislation has also made that harder to do.

What it means for you

The CBPP estimates around 750,000 older adults will be impacted by the new age requirements. If you're one of them, try not to let the red tape stop you from getting your food benefits. One study showed that work requirements can impact SNAP participation, even though they're not effective in getting people to work more.

Try to understand what counts as work and what types of unpaid work might make up your hours. There may be a lot of red tape involved, especially as the policy is confusing and poorly implemented. Persevere -- if you are a one- or two-person household, the maximum benefit you could be receiving is $535. That could make a big difference to your bottom line.

Go to benefits.gov to see if you qualify for any other benefits. The requirements differ on other programs, so you might be able to get health or even utility bill assistance. Talk to hunger NGOs or call United Way at 2-1-1 to see what food pantries or soup kitchens are in operation near you.

3. Expect more delivery services to accept SNAP payments

Grocery delivery services can give people access to lower-cost stores, bulk purchases, and special offers. Earlier this year, Uber Eats said it would start accepting SNAP payments in 2024. It joins Instacart, Amazon, and Walmart, which already accept EBT payments. This is a trend that is almost certain to grow in 2024.

What it means for you

Delivery services can offer convenience and value, and it's great that SNAP participants can access them. However, make sure you understand the fees involved and compare prices to see if you're getting the best deal. For example, I recently compared Instacart prices of a few items at Target against buying them directly from the website. The Instacart shop was almost 20% more expensive.

Key takeaway

October, the start of a new fiscal year, is when SNAP benefits change according to the cost of living. As such, SNAP participants will already be receiving the increased 2024 amount. Coupons, cash back apps, and Double Up deals can all help stretch your SNAP dollars a little further. If you don't have enough money to buy food, see if local food pantries or soup kitchens could help.