What actually changed with SNAP in 2024

The federal government did not cut the total amount of money available for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition information Program, commonly called food stamps) in 2024. What changed was the temporary increase that had been in place since the pandemic ended. From March 2020 through September 2023, every SNAP household received an extra 25 percent on top of their normal benefit. That boost expired on October 1, 2023 — before 2024 began — so most households saw their monthly benefit drop back to the standard amount.

This was not a new cut in 2024; it was the end of a temporary program that Congress had set to expire. The base benefit amounts themselves — what SNAP normally pays — remained the same throughout 2024. However, because the 25 percent boost had been in place for over three years, many people experienced the drop as a sudden loss, even though it was scheduled to end.

Some states did make separate changes to their own programs in 2024, such as adjusting income limits or work requirements, but these vary by state and are not federal cuts to SNAP itself.

Key Takeaways

  • The 25 percent pandemic boost to SNAP ended on October 1, 2023, so households received lower benefits starting in October 2023, not in 2024.
  • The base SNAP benefit amounts did not change during 2024; households returned to the standard benefit levels that existed before the pandemic.
  • Some states made changes to their own SNAP rules in 2024, such as work requirements or income thresholds, which vary by location.
  • The federal government sets the maximum benefit amounts each year based on the cost of food; these amounts are adjusted annually but are not cuts unless Congress votes to reduce them.

How the pandemic boost worked and why it ended

When COVID-19 shut down the economy in 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, which included a temporary 25 percent increase to every SNAP benefit. This meant a household that normally received $500 per month got $625 instead. The boost was meant to be temporary emergency relief and was set to expire after a certain date.

Congress extended the boost several times as the pandemic continued, but each extension had an end date written into the law. The final extension set the expiration for September 30, 2023. On October 1, 2023, the boost ended automatically unless Congress passed a new law to continue it. Congress did not pass such a law, so the boost expired as scheduled.

This means the drop in benefits happened in October 2023, not during 2024. However, many people did not realize the boost was temporary, so the reduction felt like a sudden cut even though it had been planned for years.

What the standard SNAP benefit amounts are

After the pandemic boost ended, SNAP returned to its normal benefit structure. The amount a household receives depends on household size, income, and expenses. The federal government sets a maximum benefit for each household size, and the actual benefit is calculated by subtracting a portion of the household's income from that maximum.

For 2024, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit for a single person was $291, for a family of three was $526, and for a family of four was $668. These amounts are adjusted each October based on changes in the cost of food. The actual benefit a household receives is usually lower than the maximum because it is reduced based on the household's income and certain expenses.

These maximum amounts did not decrease during 2024. They are set by a formula tied to food prices, not by Congress voting to cut the program.

State-level changes that happened in 2024

While the federal SNAP program itself did not change in 2024, individual states made their own policy changes to how they run SNAP within their borders. These changes are separate from the federal benefit amounts and vary widely by state.

Some states tightened work requirements, meaning more people had to work or participate in work programs to keep their benefits. Other states changed the income limits, which determine who can receive SNAP at all. A few states changed how they count assets or what counts as income. These changes are decided by state legislatures and state SNAP agencies, not by the federal government.

To find out whether your state made changes in 2024, you can contact your state's SNAP agency directly or visit its website. The agency name varies by state — it might be called the Department of Human Services, Department of Social Services, or Department of Family and Children Services.

How SNAP benefits are adjusted each year

The federal government adjusts the maximum SNAP benefit amounts once per year, in October, based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This adjustment is tied to inflation and food prices, not to political decisions about whether to cut or increase the program.

If food prices go up, the maximum benefit goes up. If food prices stay flat or go down, the maximum benefit stays the same or goes down. This is an automatic adjustment built into the law, not a choice Congress makes each year. In October 2024, benefits increased slightly because food costs had risen compared to the previous year.

This annual adjustment is different from the temporary pandemic boost, which was a one-time policy decision that Congress made and then allowed to expire.

The difference between a temporary boost and a permanent cut

It is important to understand the difference between what happened in 2024 and an actual cut to SNAP. A temporary boost is extra money added for a limited time, with an end date built in from the start. When the boost ends, benefits return to the normal level. This is what happened in October 2023.

A permanent cut would mean Congress voted to reduce the base benefit amounts or to reduce the amount of money available for the entire program. This did not happen in 2024. The base amounts stayed the same, and the total federal funding for SNAP remained the same.

The experience of losing the boost felt like a cut to households that had grown used to the higher amount, but legally and financially, it was the expiration of a temporary program, not a new reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Congress vote to cut food stamps in 2024?

No. Congress did not vote to reduce SNAP benefits in 2024. The drop in benefits that occurred in October 2023 was the end of a temporary pandemic boost that had been set to expire. The base benefit amounts remained unchanged throughout 2024.

Will the pandemic boost come back?

Congress would have to pass a new law to bring back the 25 percent boost. As of now, there is no such law in place. The boost was always described as temporary emergency relief, not as a permanent increase to SNAP.

Can I get more food stamps if I lost the pandemic boost?

Your SNAP benefit is based on your household size, income, and certain expenses. If your income or household situation changed, your benefit amount may have changed. Contact your state SNAP agency to report any changes and ask whether your benefit should be recalculated.

Why did my state make changes to SNAP in 2024?

States have the power to set their own rules for SNAP within federal guidelines, such as work requirements and income limits. States make these changes for different reasons — some to reduce costs, some to encourage work, some to simplify the process. The reasons vary by state.

How do I know if my state changed its SNAP rules?

Contact your state SNAP agency directly or visit its website. You can also call 211 or visit 211.org to find your state agency's contact information. They can tell you what rules explore in your state and whether anything changed recently.