SNAP cost of living adjustment just $1 for some Arkansas families

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A raise can sound good to many families, though some families in central Arkansas are questioning if a new increase in federal benefits will be enough to help deal with rising prices.

The average increase for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries starting on Oct. 1 is around 89 cents a month. The change is due to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

So how does that SNAP increase stack up with inflation? In August, the Federal Consumer Price Index showed food prices went up 2.1% in a year. It is an improvement from the 4.3% jump seen in 2023 and the 11.4% spike in 2022, but with prices still inflating, some SNAP beneficiaries say their supports are not keeping up to higher costs.

Sharon Nims is a barber who receives help from SNAP for groceries, but on Wednesday she was in line at a Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock food bank.

“Price increases on everything has made it tougher to survive so you do need that extra helping hand,” Nims said.

The help offered through the SNAP adjustment will be $1 more a month for Nims. She only gets a dollar because her kids are all older than 18 now. A household of three will get $2 more, or about $770. Families of eight will be getting an additional $5 a month.

“Seems like it could be a bit more because of price increases,” Nims argued.

The income threshold to qualify for SNAP will also change. People can make about $20-$40 more a month per person in their household. For example, a family of four can make $2,600 and still qualify, for a $100 increase.

The last change to SNAP applies to people 53 to 54 years old. To keep their SNAP benefits, they will be required to prove they are actively working, training or in school.

The USDA said homeless people, veterans or youth ages 18 to 24 who aged out of foster care are all exempt from these requirements. People who cannot work due to a physical or mental limitation, are pregnant or have a child 18 or younger living in their home are also exempt.

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