If you are qualified, some states will be the first to send you SNAP payments on October 1, 2025, with the 2025 COLA increase. Also, not all U.S. states and territories give the full amount of Food Stamps.
Just so you know, some states will send all of your SNAP payouts at once. As a result, that will be the only possible pay cheque for everyone. After the 2025 COLA, one of them will send the biggest benefit amount on October 1, 2024.
Top States for SNAP Benefits: Who Pays the Most and Which Have a Single Payday?
Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the only states where people who get food stamps will only get paid once. Aside from them, the US Virgin Islands will only have one bank holiday.
The 48 states that are next to each other share the highest payment amounts, or allotments. This means that on October 1, 2024, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont will not send the biggest SNAP checks.
In fact, the State of Alaska will send up to $3,516 to a qualified family of eight living in Rural 2 to help them out. There is a big gap between this amount and the most that can be received through SNAP after the 2025 COLA in the 48 contiguous states. A family of eight can only get $1,751.
SNAP payments after 2025 COLA starting on October 1, 2024
Here is a full list of all the states’ paydays. On September 1, money will be sent to EBT cards, but some states will have more than one payment date.
- Arizona: October 1-13
- California: October 1-10
- Colorado: October 1-10
- Connecticut: October 1-3
- Florida: October 1-28
- Idaho: October 1-10
- Illinois: October 1-10
- Iowa: October 1-10
- Kansas: October 1-10
- Kentucky: October 1-19
- Louisiana: October 1-23
- Massachusetts: October 1-14
- Missouri: October 1-22
- Nebraska: October 1-5
- Nevada: October 1-10
- New Jersey: October 1-5
- New Mexico: October 1-20
- New York: October 1-9
- Oklahoma: October 1-10
- Oregon: October 1-9
- Pennsylvania: Over the first 10 business days
- South Carolina: October 1-10
- Tennessee: October 1-20
- Texas: October 1-28
- Virginia: October 1-7
- Washington: October 1-20
- West Virginia: October 1-9
- Wisconsin: October 1-15
- Wyoming: October 1-4
- Guam & D.C.
- Guam: October 1-10
- The District of Columbia: October 1-10
What are the factors that determine the maximum SNAP benefit amounts in different states and territories?
The main things that affect the highest amount of SNAP benefits in each state and territory are
- Rules about income: Families must meet tests based on their gross and net income, which are expressed as a percentage of the government poverty line. These rules about income can be different from one state to the next.
- Higher maximum benefits are available to homes with more people. For example, in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. during fiscal year 2024, the most a family can get each month is $291 for a one-person household and $766 for a three-person household.
- Cost of living: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have higher income limits, maximum benefits, and rebate amounts than the 48 states that are adjacent to each other and Washington, D.C. This is why those places have higher costs of life.
- Deductions: To figure out their net income for SNAP reasons, households can take certain costs out of their gross income. For example, they can take a portion of the cost of housing and child care. The states can use these withdrawals in a number of different ways.
- People who get help from programs like TANF or SSI may be “categorically eligible” for SNAP. Then they don’t do the tests for gross income and assets. The states can make this available to other qualifying families as well.
What is the difference in the maximum SNAP benefit amount between Alaska and the 48 contiguous States
Alaska has bigger maximum SNAP benefits than the 48 states that are next to it. For the coming year (2024), which runs from October 2023 to September 2024:
- For a household size of 1, the maximum benefit is $291 in the 48 states, but $364 in Alaska.
- For a household size of 4, the maximum benefit is $973 in the 48 states, but $1,216 in Alaska.
- For a household size of 8, the maximum benefit is $1,751 in the 48 states, but $2,188 in Alaska.
The differences are starker with the 2025 SNAP benefits (starting October 2024):
- An 8-member household in the 48 contiguous states can receive up to $1,751 maximum.
- However, an 8-member household in certain rural areas of Alaska (Rural 2) can receive up to $3,516, which is the largest maximum benefit across all states and territories.