New SNAP maximum allotments and income eligibility standards took effect October 1 in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the USDA says.
By the numbers: The maximum monthly allotment is $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three and $1,023 for a family of four, rising to $1,841 for a household of eight.
- Gross monthly income limits, set at 130% of the poverty level, are $1,729 for one person and $3,575 for a family of four. Net limits are $1,330 and $2,750.
Zoom in: The asset cap is $4,750 for households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled, and $3,000 for everyone else.
Between the lines: Allotments come from the Thrifty Food Plan, which the USDA prices out each June for a family of four. Smaller households get slightly more per person, larger ones slightly less.
Why it matters: A household just over the old cutoff may qualify now, and the deductions matter too: the standard deduction is $217 for one to three people and the excess shelter deduction is capped at $769.
