The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps or CalFresh in California, does not bring good news for the millions of families facing rising food prices. According to the Department of Agriculture, the annual adjustment in benefits for fiscal year 2025 will result in a monthly increase of only $1 to $5, beginning October 1.
Recipients will receive the following:
This slight increase is calculated taking into account the Thrifty Food Plan, which establishes a nutritious and affordable diet. In June 2024, the average cost of such a diet for a family was $975.70.
In addition, beginning in October, changes to the asset and savings limits to qualify for SNAP will be implemented. This limit will be raised to $3,000, which represents an increase of $250 compared to the previous fiscal year. For households with a member who is disabled or age 60 or older, the limit will increase to $4,500, also an increase of $250.
The monthly gross income limits to access the program are:
For households with elderly or disabled persons, the limits are higher. For example, for a person over the age of 60, the limit will be $2,071.
Notably, applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 who are able-bodied and have no dependents must meet a work requirement of at least 80 hours per month to receive SNAP assistance, which represents a significant change in program policy.
In addition, a cost-of-living increase (COLA) for Social Security and supplemental assistance recipients will be announced on October 10. This increase, calculated from the Consumer Price Index, is estimated at 2.5%, although final September data is awaited to confirm this percentage.