SNAP Recipients to See Benefit Increase Starting October 1

October 1, 2025 – Families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see larger monthly benefits beginning Wednesday, Oct. 1, as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual cost-of-living adjustment.

The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four will rise to $994, an increase of $19 from last year’s allotment of $975. Single-person households will now receive up to $298, while families of eight can qualify for as much as $1,789.

The USDA makes yearly adjustments to SNAP benefits based on the Thrifty Food Plan, which measures the cost of groceries and reflects inflation. Officials say the change is meant to help families better cover food expenses as prices remain high across much of the country.

But the modest increase comes alongside new federal work requirements for certain recipients. As of Sept. 1, 2025, Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)—those ages 18 to 54 without children—must meet a 20-hour weekly threshold through work, education, training, or volunteering. Individuals who fail to meet the requirement may be limited to just three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period.

And the rules will soon expand. Beginning Nov. 1, 2025, the work mandate will also apply to adults ages 55 to 64, parents whose youngest child is at least 14, veterans, and some former foster youth.

Advocates say the added benefits are welcome but worry that stricter eligibility rules could push vulnerable households off the program. “A $19 increase for families is important, but it won’t make up for the number of people who may lose access entirely under these new requirements,” one food policy expert said.

SNAP currently supports more than 3.6 million Texans, providing a vital safety net for families struggling with rising food costs.