Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are a crucial part of the US social security system. They give families much needed funds for crucial supplies, and more people are using the system than ever. 1 in 7 American families are enrolled in the program, a number exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic that is still causing misery across the nation, and the world.
Due to the pandemic, and rising inflation, SNAP benefits are receiving as boost in funding for 2022. The average benefit will increase, providing a slight reprieve for many. However, as usual, there are only specific foods that can be purchased with the benefits. SNAP is distributed with Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, further preventing families from shopping at certain stores, unless said stores meet a set of requirements.
How much is the increase?
For families of four people living in the 48 contiguous US states, including the District of Columbia, the maximum allocation for the year will be $835.
For families of four people living in Alaska, the maximum is between $1,074 and $1,667 in Alaska, while people in Hawaii can receive a maximum of $1,573.
In two US dependencies, families in Guam can receive a maximum of $1,231, while those in the US Virgin Islands can receive up to $1,074, the same as the minimum in Alaska.
What about the emergency increase for February 2022?
Since March 2020, the federal government approved an expansion of SNAP benefits. This expansion ensures that recipients of SNAP benefits automatically receive the maximum allotted value, if their state meets certain criteria.
To find if you are eligible to receive the maximum SNAP value, check the website of your state.
