SNAP Food Stamps are monthly checks that United States citizens get to buy food or eat at participating restaurants. These checks are intended for the neediest Americans. For this reason, one of the main requirements has always been to have a low monthly income.
However, the amount of low monthly income usually changes from year to year. This means that many Americans may get a new check or may stop getting a new check. What is certain is that SNAP Food Stamps will continue to reach American households for direct help with grocery shopping.
On the eligibility side we will see some changes, as well as in the maximum check the USDA will issue through SNAP Food Stamps. If you are currently getting one of these checks you should pay close attention to the new eligibility aspects, as it could turn out to directly affect your benefit.
CHANGES IN SNAP FOOD STAMPS ELIGIBILITY
In order to apply for and receive a monthly SNAP Food Stamps check, we must meet certain requirements. Age is one of those requirements and in order to have one of these payments you must be in the “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWD) group. Now we will see more people who are out of the ABAWD since last September, so this rule will also affect by 2024.
In order to get SNAP Food Stamps payment it is mandatory to work at least 80 hours a month from age 18 to age 50. Now it is possible to do so until the age of 52. In other words, if we are 18 to 52 years old and work at least 80 hours at least we will have access to this benefit. If we meet the rest of the requirements. It is very possible that the age will increase to 54 in October next year.
Even so, there are exceptions to this. Citizens with a physical or mental disability will not have to work that number of hours. Likewise, pregnant women or veterans do not have to work to acquire this benefit.
NEW MAXIMUM FOOD STAMPS CHECKS
Through the 2024 COLA we have seen that checks such as the Social Security check will have an increase. In the case of this benefit this increase also has an effect, as we could reach a higher amount in each of the States.
Remember that the SNAP Food Stamps benefit depends on the size of the household. The more family members in a household, the larger the SNAP check. Therefore, these will be the maximum checks in the 48 contiguous states and D.C.:
- Family of 1 member: $291
- Family of two members: $535
- Family of 3 members: $766
- Family of 4 members: $973
- Family of 5 members: $1,155
- Family of 6 members: $ 1,386
- Family of 7 members: $1,532
- Family of 8 members: US$ 1,751
- Each additional family member: $219
With these new requirements and these new SNAP Food Stamps checks we will get our monthly payment as usual on the EBT card, so we can then use it at any of the affiliated establishments, whether they are restaurants or stores.