SNAP Benefits: Can You Use Your SNAP Money in Every State?

In March, as many as 16 million American households saw a sharp reduction in the size of their SNAP benefits or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program due to the discontinuation of pandemic-era SNAP emergency allotments.

An advocacy group working to end hunger, Food Research & Action Center, noted that participants will receive around $82 less this month in SNAP benefits while some households will see a decrease in their benefits by $250 or more, according to NPR.

The decrease in benefits has been a huge problem for those who depend on food stamp payments to put food on their table, which has been further exacerbated by the rising costs of goods.

Those who qualify for SNAP will now receive about $6 per person a day.

All of the states distributing emergency allotments have stopped depositing additional funds to beneficiaries' bank accounts.

Use of SNAP Benefits

Food stamps can be used to buy food supplies to create balanced and healthy meals. However, SNAP benefits are not to be used to procure alcohol, cigarettes, or household cleaning supplies, among others.

MARCA noted the benefits can also be used across all 50 states in the country, regardless of which state you actually reside in.

SNAP benefits payment is a federal program, which is why it can be used across the United States instead of just in a particular state.

In addition, there are recipients of food stamp money who live next to the border of another state, with the nearest and cheapest grocery store may actually be over in the next state.

There are states that are in close proximity to its border, especially in the northeast of the country, such as New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.

SNAP benefits can be used in grocery stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, farmers' markets, local food co-ops, pharmacies, and gas stations.

National Council on Aging reported that more than 80% of SNAP benefits are used at large retailers.

Superstores like large retailers such as Walmart and Target also accept SNAP payments through Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.

SNAP Benefits Update

In 2023, several changes have been applied to SNAP benefits, such as the cost-of-living adjustment. The announced increase in payments started on October 1, 2022, with an increase of 12.5%.

Recipients will also see higher maximum benefit amounts, with a one-person household will receive a maximum payment of $281 from $250, according to Go Banking Rates.

An eight-person household will now receive $1,691 from the previous amount of $1,504.

Maximum asset limits also increased for the said fiscal year. Households with at least one member aged 60 or older or disabled have asset limits of $4,250, which was an increase from $3,750 the previous year.

All other households without such households will have an asset limit of $2.750, which was an increase from $2,500.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: How to Use Your EBT Card - from Virginia Department of Social Services