MILLIONS of Americans can get up to $1,751 to help cover food costs, but they must meet certain criteria.
Around 41.2million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) program each year.
Millions of Americans qualify for food stamps Commonly known as food stamps , who qualifies and when you are paid the benefit varies from state to state.
This is because the policy is funded by the federal government but administered at state level.
The amount a household can receive depends on income and how many people live in the property .
A single person can collect $291, two people can claim $535 and a household of eight can get $1,751.
Households also receive an extra $219 for each additional person over this eight-person limit.
Food stamp payments are delivered via a prepaid electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
These can be used like a debit card when paying for your weekly grocery shop.
SNAP is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provides a list of the exact dates each state sends out payments.
HOW TO APPLY Residents apply for SNAP through their state, usually through a human services or social services center.
You can easily find your local SNAP program and social services agency through the US’s benefits website.
Those in need of immediate assistance can also contact the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479).
Each state gets to decide when to pay eligible households food stamps, however they are generally made once a month.
Households must meet specific income requirements to qualify for financial help.
What is SNAP? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was created to help low-income Americans get the groceries they need to feed their families.
Eligible applicants are determined by household income and resource limits Payment amounts vary depending on household size The funds are distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards (EBTs) each month Those who benefit from the program get money throughout a determined certification period Recipients must then re-apply for certification again to keep getting the financial assistance they need The application deadline for 2024 is September 30 Credit: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET The USDA adjusts the SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility each year to keep up with inflation .
These are based on cost-of-living adjustments ( COLA ), which is the amount needed to support a basic standard of living each year.
The COLA is announced the year before the changes go into effect.
The payments typically increase in October of each year, the start of the new fiscal year.
This doesn’t always mean there is a boost in payment though and sometimes they can go down depending on which state you live in.
In other news , VISA and Mastercard customers are set to receive a portion of a massive $197.5million settlement .
Plus, Americans may qualify for a cash payment from a $115million settlement surrounding a privacy class action suit.
Local News
