For fiscal year 2026 — October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 — the maximum SNAP benefit in the 48 states and D.C. is $298 a month for one person and $994 for a family of four. The minimum benefit for one- and two-person households is $24.
Most households receive less than the maximum. Your actual amount is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income — so the maximum goes only to households with little or no countable income after deductions.
What are the maximum SNAP amounts for 2026?
USDA’s official FY 2026 figures for the 48 states and D.C.:
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each additional person | +$218 |
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have higher scales — a family of four ranges from $1,285 to $1,995 in Alaska, and gets $1,689 in Hawaii. These amounts adjust every October 1; the next change arrives with FY 2027.
How is your actual benefit calculated?
The formula: maximum allotment for your household size − (net monthly income × 0.30).
SNAP assumes a household can put 30% of its net income toward food, and the benefit fills the gap. Worked example for a family of three with $1,500 net monthly income:
- Maximum for three people: $785
- 30% of net income: $450
- Monthly benefit: $785 − $450 = $335
Net income is what remains after deductions from gross pay: the standard deduction ($209 for households of 1–3 in FY 2026), 20% of earned income, dependent care costs, child support paid, excess shelter costs (capped at $744 for most households), and medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled members. Whether you qualify at all is covered in our guide to SNAP income limits for 2026.
Why is your payment lower than the table shows?
Because the table is a ceiling, not a standard payment. Common reasons your amount is smaller:
- Earned income. Every $100 of net income cuts the benefit by $30.
- Household size counted differently. Only people who buy and prepare food together count as one SNAP household.
- Deductions not reported. If you never told your caseworker about rent, childcare, or medical costs, your net income looks higher than it is. Report them — it can raise your benefit.
When do 2026 amounts change?
October 1, 2026, when FY 2027 cost-of-living adjustments take effect. USDA typically announces the new figures in August. Until then, the amounts above hold. Note that your own benefit can change any month your income or household changes — and you must renew periodically, as explained in how SNAP recertification works.
If you need benefits urgently, some applicants qualify for expedited SNAP within 7 days.
FAQ
Q. Does everyone with no income get the maximum?
A. Households with zero net countable income receive the full maximum for their size. Any countable income reduces it by the 30% formula.
Q. Is the $24 minimum really worth claiming?
A. Yes — enrollment can also unlock other help, like free school meals, utility assistance, and discounted phone/internet programs.
Q. Are SNAP amounts the same in every state?
A. The 48 contiguous states and D.C. share one scale. Alaska, Hawaii, and the territories have higher scales to reflect food costs.
Q. Do benefits roll over if I don’t spend them?
A. Yes, unused balances carry forward month to month. Benefits are removed only after an extended period of account inactivity (generally 9 months under current rules).