As the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are delivered, millions of low-income households in the United States expects to experience a certain level of relief this September. That means, this month, depending on the size of your household and income, you could receive as high as $1,751 on your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card for food stamps. However, eligibility and benefit amounts are based on some particular federal and state regulations.
Moreover, with increasing food prices every dollar counts. Additionally, when you know when to expect your benefits, your families can plan better for their monthly grocery expenses. The aim in this guideline is to determine if you are eligible for maximum SNAP payment as well as when your September benefits will be deposited.
Requirements to qualify for maximum SNAP payment
For you to receive SNAP benefits of upto $1,751, you have to belong to a relatively big household like one with eight members. SNAP is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which has put strict requirements on who can receive its benefits. The requirements that applicants must meet in order to qualify for SNAP in 2024 are:
- Gross income: The household’s gross monthly income (before deductions) must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty line, meaning that a family of three should not earn more than $2,072 per month.
- Net income: After allowable deductions such as housing and child care expenses, a household’s net income has to be equal or less than the poverty line. Therefore, the net income limit for three persons’ family is $1,598 within thirty days.
- Asset limits: Households without elderly or disabled members should possess assets worth $2,750 or less while those with them will be allowed to have an asset limit set at $4,250.
Benefit amounts are influenced by household sizes where smaller households receive less and bigger households receives more SNAP benefits. For instance, a single person household can receive up to $292 while a family of four could get up to $975 in September. Only families with eight people can access the maximum $1,751 but each additional person with them gets an extra $220 which is smaller than mosrt families with few family members.
States distributing up to $1,751 in September
SNAP payment dates vary by state, and each state has its own schedule for distributing benefits. Depending on where you live, payments may be issued based on the last digit of your case number or the first letter of your last name.
Here are some states and their September payment schedules:
- Arizona: September 1-13
- Arkansas: September 4-13
- Florida: September 1-28
- Georgia: September 5-23
- Massachusetts: September 1-14
- Texas: September 1-28
If you live in any of these states and meet the eligibility requirements, you should expect your SNAP payment to hit your EBT card within these specified dates. States like California and New York have already delivered benefits for September, and others are in the process of distributing payments.
How to check your EBT balance
You can check your EBT balance with the portal of your state or call customer support numbers on the back of your EBT card. It is always good to monitor your balance so that you can plan appropriately for your shopping trips without any delays or surprises.
There are some states that provide mobile applications that allows you to track your SNAP assistance and expenditures. For you to continue to receive these important benefits, please ensure that you have updated your personal data at the nearest SNAP office.
