The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports millions of families across the nations, with each month seeing new payments be released to beneficiaries in order to assist with the purchase of food-related expenses. SNAP has long been recognized as a cornerstone social assistance program with regards to preventing childhood poverty and helping families keep food on the table. This month, a new round of payments will once again go out to millions of beneficiaries, with the amount you receive depending on your income level and number of dependents.
SNAP supports 40 million families and individuals
SNAP is responsible for supporting approximately 40 million beneficiaries. The program is federally-funded, with each state responsible for the distribution of benefits to the beneficiaries who live in their state. In order to receive benefits, you must be from a low-income background, with your income eligibility proportional to the number of people who are your dependents in your household.
The general income limits to receive SNAP benefits are as follows:
- Household of one: net monthly income limit of $1,255
- Household of two: net monthly income limit of $1,704
- Household of three: net monthly income limit of $2,152
- Household of four: net monthly income limit of $2,600
- Household of five: net monthly income limit of $3,049
- Household of six: net monthly income limit of $3,497
- Household of seven: net monthly income limit of $3,945
- Household of eight: net monthly income limit of $4,394
- Every additional member: +$449
Additionally, the program is not intended to be a long-term solution for beneficiaries. Rather, there is a set amount of time you can qualify to receive benefits for, and in order to continue to receive your benefits, you must ensure that you meet specific work requirements. This is to help individuals become financially independent by providing a temporary intervention while beneficiaries search for more stable employment and income.
Selected families can receive up to $1,756
For residents from Texas, the Texas Health and Human Services provides the following guide for how much your benefits will be if you are eligible to receive SNAP:
- Household of one: $292
- Household of two: $536
- Household of three: $768
- Household of four: $975
- Household of five: $1,158
- Household of six: $1,390
- Household of seven: $1,536
- Household of eight: $1,756
- For every additional dependent: $220
In Texas, payments are distributed to beneficiaries everyday throughout the month, with this month’s payments set between August 1-28. Your specific payment date will depend on the last two digits of your case number. If you are a SNAP beneficiary but hail from a different state, you must ensure that you confirm with your state government how payments are distributed.
New ‘Sun Bucks’ for SNAP beneficiaries
In addition to the regular SNAP payments which are set to go off this month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition services is also releasing limited Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer payments, also known ‘Sun Bucks’. These payments are to help families who are on social assistance programs like SNAP help to cover the increase in grocery costs over the summer vacation period with the National School Lunch Program not operating during this time.
If you are already on SNAP or other social assistance programs, you automatically qualify to receive this additional $120 benefit per child. The benefits will be loaded onto your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, or one will be sent to you if you do not already have one. Your child will also qualify to receive the benefits if they are on the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. If you are not already enrolled in these programs, you can still apply to receive the benefits provided that you meet the income requirements to receive the benefits per qualifying child.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of stimulus checks, tax reliefs, tax rebates, tax credits, and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up to date and obtain information for your decision-making.
