Late last week, the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) published the SNAP Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) that will go into effect October 1, 2026.
h/t to u/huyt01 for catching this and posting it yesterday. I'm following up on their post with additional info below.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to discuss what most SNAP recipients will experience in most scenarios; it is not an individualized eligibility determination. If you have questions about how much of an increase, if any, you will receive in October, please contact your caseworker or your state or county's customer service center.
What does this mean?
In most cases, it means people who get SNAP will see those benefits go up modestly starting with their October payment. The amount of the increase will vary significantly -- anywhere from as little as an additional $1 per month on the low end for some small households, to an extra $40 to $50 or more on the high end for some large households. Below, we address the most common scenarios -- what most households of six people or less in the lower 48 states (and DC) are likely to see. If you have a question about how the COLAs could affect larger households or households in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please ask in the comments.
As always, keep in mind that if anything else about your situation changed in the last couple months (getting a new job, giving birth to a child, a member of your household hitting their three-month time limit, etc.), these other factors could cause your household's benefit amount to go up or down in ways not accounted for below.
What are the common scenarios?
Scenario 1: People receiving the maximum benefit
If you are already receiving the maximum benefit for your household size for this fiscal year, you will most likely receive the new maximum benefit for your household size for next fiscal year.
| HH Size |
Current Max Benefit |
New Max Benefit |
Most Likely Increase |
| 1 |
$298 |
$306 |
+$8 |
| 2 |
$546 |
$562 |
+$16 |
| 3 |
$785 |
$808 |
+$23 |
| 4 |
$994 |
$1,023 |
+$29 |
| 5 |
$1,183 |
$1,217 |
+$34 |
| 6 |
$1,421 |
$1,463 |
+$42 |
Scenario 2: People receiving the minimum benefit
Some households with one or two people receive the minimum benefit, which is currently $24/month. These households will most likely receive the new minimum benefit, which will be $25/month, an increase of $1/month. In rare cases, a small number of these households may receive a larger increase.
| HH Size |
Current Min Benefit |
New Min Benefit |
Most Likely Increase |
| 1 |
$24 |
$25 |
+$1 |
| 2 |
$24 |
$25 |
+$1 |
| 3 or more |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Scenario 3: People currently receiving neither the minimum nor the maximum benefit
If a household receives less than the maximum benefit, and more than the minimum benefit (or the minimum benefit doesn't apply), the household will likely receive a modest increase that reflects both the increase to the maximum benefit, as well as an increase in SNAP's standard deduction. However, in no case can a household qualify for higher than the maximum benefit in Scenario 1.
| HH Size |
Current Benefit |
New Benefit |
Most Likely Increase |
| 1 |
$25 - $297 |
$35 - $306 |
+$10 or +$11 |
| 2 |
$25 - $545 |
$43 - $562 |
+$18 or +$19 |
| 3 |
$1 - $784 |
$26 - $808 |
+$25 or +$26 |
| 4 |
$1 - $993 |
$31 - $1,023 |
+$30 or +$31 |
| 5 |
$1 - $1,182 |
$37 - $1,217 |
+$36 or +$37 |
| 6 |
$1 - $1,420 |
$45 - $1,463 |
+$44 or +$45 |
Scenario 4: Certain Scenario 3 Households with very High Shelter Costs
If a household does not include one or more elderly (age 60+) or disabled people, federal law limits or "caps" how much the state or county is allowed to consider shelter costs in the SNAP formula. Every year, this cap goes up, which can increase SNAP benefits in scenarios where the household had reached the previous capped deduction.
For that group of households, this could represent up to an additional $7 to $8 per month increase in monthly SNAP benefits on top of the increases shown in Scenario 3.
How were these changes determined?
USDA is required by law to publish COLAs each year at the beginning of the federal fiscal year (October 1). The changes to the maximum SNAP benefit levels were determined by monitoring how much the average national cost of a specific "market basket" went up between last summer and this summer. This market basket is called the "Thrifty Food Plan" and includes a specific amounts of various types of foods and beverages -- think of it like a specific shopping cart full of the same weekly grocery order that the government is determining the price of over and over again, week after week. This is meant to ensure that SNAP benefit levels keep up with inflation, but the process is far from perfect, and it is likely that a lot of people will feel that the increases simply aren't enough to keep up with rising food prices in their area.
When and How will I be Informed?
Federal rules(1)(ii)) technically do not require your state or county to inform you individually as long as they publicize the changes in the press or by posting posters or flyers in public places like the SNAP eligibility offices. However, many states and counties will also send you a notice in the mail. If you haven't heard anything by the middle of September, you can always contact your caseworker or your state or county's customer service center to ask how your benefits will be changing. Keep in mind that the central state offices just these new amounts from the federal government last week and it takes time to put the changes in the system -- so it may still be a couple weeks before your caseworker can tell you what your new monthly benefit amount will be.
