Are You a SNAP Beneficiary? Here’s What You Could Receive Starting October 1

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will update its maximum monthly benefits on October 1, 2026 in 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C., with increases ranging from $8 for a single person to $52 for households with eight members.

The new amounts are calculated according to the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, although the actual benefit will depend on income, deductions, and household size. As of July 4, 2025, only legal permanent residents, Cubans and Haitians with «entry» status, and citizens of COFA countries can be eligible for SNAP based on their immigration status.

How Will Food Stamp Benefits Be Adjusted?

For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., maximum monthly amounts will be adjusted as follows beginning October 1, 2026. One person will receive $298 to $306, an increase of $8; two people will go from $546 to $562, an increase of $16.

Three people will receive $785 to $808, an increase of $23; four people will go from $994 to $1,023, an increase of $29. Five people will receive $1,183 to $1,217, an increase of $34; six people will go from $1,421 to $1,463, an increase of $42.

Seven people will receive $1,571 to $1,616, an increase of $45; eight people will go from $1,789 to $1,841, an increase of $52. The amount each household receives may be less than the established maximum, as the benefit is calculated based on income, allowed deductions, and household size.

Therefore, not all beneficiaries will necessarily receive the full announced increase. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have separate benefit tables and maximum amounts due to differences in cost of living and food prices.

Which Latino Families Can Receive SNAP?

For millions of migrant families in the United States, SNAP is aid to buy food when money runs short. To participate in the program, one of the main requirements is having income and legal immigration status.

Since July 4, 2025, with the implementation of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the government has narrowed the categories of immigrants who can be eligible for SNAP. The provision establishes that the only non-citizens who can be eligible based on immigration status are legal permanent residents (LPR), Cubans and Haitians considered «entrants,» and certain citizens of countries covered by the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).

This means that living or working temporarily in the United States is not enough to receive SNAP; undocumented immigrants cannot obtain it either. Other rules include meeting the program’s income guidelines, resources, and other conditions.

What Determines Receiving SNAP Benefits?