SNAP benefits increase as inflation does. Just like retirement, SSDI and SSI benefits do after the Social Security COLA boost in December. However, they may not always increase and there could be a decrease.
This is what happened in Hawaii last year. SNAP recipients got less money after the COLA adjustment in Hawaii. Even if citizens felt they were losing purchasing power, the got lower maximum benefits.
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Snap benefits & the 2025 cola projection
Although it is impossible to know for sure the next COLA increase for SNAP beneficiaries, there is a growing tendency in the latest CPI-W figures. For example, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers reached 3.5 in March.
The previous CPI-W was just 3.1% in January and in February. Nevertheless, the Senior Citizens League adjusted the “long-term forecast COLA to 2.6% in 2025″. That means it could be lower than the 2024 COLA boost for Food Stamp recipients.
If the last COLA boost for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was about 3.2%, it could be about 0.6% less. So, let’s have a look at the possible maximum amount for different household sizes.
How much could maximum snap amounts be after the cola increase?
From October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, a single person can receive up to $291. If there were a 2.6% increase, a single person on Food Stamps could get up to $298. But if inflation keeps going up, they could even get up to 300 dollars.
A family of 4 can receive up to $973, so they could obtain a SNAP check of up to 998 dollars. This would mean that recipients could get about 25 dollars extra per month. Undoubtedly, it will come in handy.
The largest SNAP benefit in 2023 is worth $1,751 if you are 8. It could become $1,796. Approximately, this payment could be 45 dollars extra per month. Anyway, it will be necessary to wait and see what happens to inflation in the upcoming months.
Why did SNAP recipients in Hawaii get less money after the COLA adjustment?
SNAP recipients in Hawaii received less money after the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for several reasons.
Hawaii is the only state where the maximum SNAP allotment dropped after the COLA. This is despite Hawaii’s generally higher benefits. The state’s grocery costs are much higher. For instance, a four-person household in Hawaii gets $1,759 a month. In comparison, those in other states get $973. The adjustment is yearly and aims to match the cost of living. The Thrifty Food Plan sets the allotments. Each household size affects the amount given per person.
Despite increasing costs and inflation, the COLA in Hawaii led to reduced benefits for 2023-2024. Meanwhile, SNAP recipients in other states saw increases. For example, in the 48 contiguous states and D.C., benefits for a four-person household went up from $939 to $973.