The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most important food assistance programs in the United States, delivering SNAP benefits to qualifying households who require additional funds to purchase nutritious food and improve their overall well-being. So far, 26 states have handed out September benefits, with 12 already delivering this month’s payments. Many American families pay close attention to how their SNAP payments are credited each month because, in these days of high inflation, every dollar matters, especially when it comes to food.
Although SNAP is a federal program with the central administration in charge of disbursing funds, the distribution is chosen by each state that participates in the program, hence there is no nationwide crediting date. Each state has also established payment guidelines by creating schedules based on a variety of parameters, such as the first letter of the primary beneficiary’s last name and, in some cases, the last Social Security number, among other elements used to order distributions.
The list of states that will pay $1,751 for SNAP benefits
All SNAP beneficiaries receive their benefits via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which functions similarly to a debit card except for these features. The EBT card can only be used to buy food at approved locations, and benefits are withdrawn from the account automatically each month. According to government guidelines, SNAP payments for September will range from $291 for a single participant to $1751 for a family of eight. Several revisions are slated to take place beginning in October, including a change in the maximum SNAP allotments for the 48 states and D.C., which will take effect from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, according to the timeline below:
| Number of Persons | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $292 |
| 2 | $536 |
| 3 | $768 |
| 4 | $975 |
| 5 | $1,158 |
| 6 | $1,390 |
| 7 | $1,536 |
| 8 | $1,756 |
| Each additional | $220 |
As of September, many states had finished the payment procedure, while others were still in the process or had just started. According to the 2024 SNAP benefit payment schedule, the following states allow eligible households to apply for up to $1751:
| State | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Sept 4 | Sept 23 |
| Arizona | Sept 1 | Sept 13 |
| Arkansas | Sept 4 | Sept 13 |
| Delaware | Sept 2 | Sept 23 |
| Florida | Sept 1 | Sept 28 |
| Georgia | Sept 5 | Sept 23 |
| Indiana | Sept 5 | Sept 23 |
| Kentucky | Sept 1 | Sept 19 |
| Louisiana | Sept 1 | Sept 23 |
| Maine | Sept 10 | Sept 14 |
| Maryland | Sept 4 | Sept 23 |
| Massachusetts | Sept 1 | Sept 14 |
| Michigan | Sept 3 | Sept 21 |
| Minnesota | Sept 4 | Sept 13 |
| Mississippi | Sept 4 | Sept 21 |
| Missouri | Sept 1 | Sept 22 |
| New Mexico | Sept 1 | Sept 20 |
| North Carolina | Sept 3 | Sept 21 |
| Ohio | Sept 2 | Sept 20 |
| Tennessee | Sept 1 | Sept 20 |
| Texas | Sept 1 | Sept 28 |
| Utah | Sept 11, 15 | Sept 11, 15 |
| Washington | Sept 1 | Sept 20 |
| Wisconsin | Sept 1 | Sept 15 |
On the other hand, below are the states that have previously provided SNAP benefits to their residents:
| State | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| California | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Colorado | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Idaho | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Illinois | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Iowa | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Kansas | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Nevada | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| New York | Sept 1 | Sept 9 |
| Oklahoma | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| Oregon | Sept 1 | Sept 9 |
| South Carolina | Sept 1 | Sept 10 |
| West Virginia | Sept 1 | Sept 9 |
Snap Payments Could Be Jeopardized if No Action Is Done
If Congress does not act by September 30, low-income families who have had their SNAP benefits stolen will lose their eligibility for reimbursement. According to the USDA, around 125,000 households nationwide received federal SNAP payments totaling more than $61.5 million during fiscal years 2023 and the first half of 2024; however, Ruppersberger feels these estimates are likely underestimated. Although Ruppersberger is leading a bipartisan effort to prolong payments to skimming victims, he believes a standalone bill will not be passed by the 30th, especially since Congress is more focused on avoiding a government shutdown before October 1.
It is important to emphasize that skimming is not limited to SNAP participants; it also affects people who receive money on debit-like cards with magnetic strips that can be read at checkouts. However, unlike debit cards, their electronic benefits transfer cards lack embedded microchips and other anti-theft security features like contactless payments. Furthermore, they are ineligible for continuous federal consumer protections, which would allow them to replace stolen funds.
