Beginning October 1, millions of Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a modest increase in their monthly grocery assistance. Driven by an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of approximately 2.9%, the update aims to help lower-income households keep pace with inflation and rising food costs.

For single recipients in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., maximum monthly benefits will rise by $8 to reach $306. Meanwhile, a family of four will see an increase of $29, bringing their maximum monthly allotment to $1,023. Maximum benefits vary for non-contiguous regions to account for higher grocery costs, with a family of four in rural Alaska eligible for up to $2,027, while Hawaii will experience a slight decrease to a maximum of $1,655.

Eligibility for the program, which currently supports roughly 37 million Americans, depends on household income, assets, work status, and other factors. Gross monthly income limits remain set at $1,729 for individuals and $3,575 for a family of four, while standard asset limits hold steady at $3,000 for most households.

This update arrives amid broader shifts for the program. SNAP enrollment has dropped by about 13% over the past year following policy changes from the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill,” and numerous states face potential funding risks as federal requirements tie aid strictly to state error rates.