Most federal assistance programs change and evolve with every year that passes, and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is no exception to this rule.

Managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the program provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food necessary to live comfortably. One of the quirks that separate the SNAP program from others is that, while it is federally funded and enforced, it is state managed an distributed, which help families not fall through the cracks and adapt the program better to the needs of every state and their residents.

Another of the program’s quirks is that the changes to the program do not enter into effect in January as with most programs, but they are started in October, as soon as the cost of living increase is announced, to give beneficiaries a head start to the year and eliminating one worry for those who receive multiple avenues of assistance.

Changes in Pennsylvania SNAP benefits

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has announced updates to the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for SNAP as well as the specific changes that apply to residents of the state. One of the biggest changes that will affect residents of the state id the change to the maximum income limit that families have when it comes to applying for the benefit. The changes are not applied equally across the board, as benefits are distributed differently depending on the size of a family or the age of the recipients. But, as a general rule, this is the maximum monthly income a family can have in Pennsylvania to be considered eligible for the benefit:

Pennsylvania Secretary Jan Arkoosh emphasized the importance of the SNAP benefit for families in the state “Being able to feed yourself and your family is not just a health issue; it also instills a sense of self-reliance, safety, and dignity when you know you can access fresh, nutritious foods without making the difficult choice between paying for groceries and paying for other necessities.”

This is why another important change to the program is the Thrifty Food Plan, which according to the USDA is “the cost of food necessary to provide a healthy, budget-conscious diet for a family of four.” This sets the maximum amount a family can receive in SNAP payments depending on the number of members that are in the household.

How to find out if you are eligible for SNAP benefits

Eligibility is not universal across the country because not every state has the same standard of living, costs and access to food. It would be unfair to hold to the same standards someone living in the rural parts of Alaska and someone living in a metropolitan area in California. This is why applications need to be reviewed in every state differently.

The conditions specific to every state are available in the SNAP website that correspond to each of the 50 states as well as the minutiae of the application process. Do not be discouraged if your application is not clear cut, as there is some leeway for those who need help. As Secretary Arkoosh explains “SNAP helps more than two million Pennsylvanians, many of whom are our friends and neighbors, keep food on their tables. I strongly encourage anyone who may need food assistance to apply for SNAP.”

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