SNAP's new amounts start October 1, and you do not have to apply
The FY2027 SNAP cost-of-living adjustment takes effect October 1, 2026. New maximums and income limits apply automatically to October benefits.
this story****OCT 1
New SNAP amounts · Applied automatically
SNAP maximum allotments and income limits change every October 1 under the annual cost-of-living adjustment. The FY2027 amounts apply automatically to benefits issued for October 2026 — recipients do not need to reapply or take any action.
SNAP amounts change on October 1 every year. Not January. The program runs on the federal fiscal year, and the fiscal year starts in October.
For FY2027, the maximum for a family of four in the 48 states and D.C. goes to $1,023, up from $994.
You do not need to do anything
The adjustment is applied automatically to benefits issued for October. There is no form, no reapplication, no phone call. If someone contacts you asking for a fee or personal information to “process your SNAP increase,” that is not how it works.
Two dates, two systems
This is a source of real confusion, so it is worth stating plainly:
| Program | Adjustment date | Index |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP | October 1 | Thrifty Food Plan cost |
| Social Security | January | CPI-W |
If you receive both, they change at different times of year, by different amounts, calculated from different things.
What else moves on the same date
The income limits. The gross income limit rises to $1,729 a month for one person and $3,575 for four. The shelter deduction cap goes to $769, and the asset limit for households with an elderly or disabled member goes to $4,750.
If a household was over the limit last year by a small margin, the October adjustment is worth re-checking — the threshold moved.
Questions people ask
Do I need to do anything?
No. The adjustment is applied automatically to October benefits.
Why October and not January?
SNAP runs on the federal fiscal year, which begins October 1. Social Security runs on the calendar year, which is why the two adjustments land in different months.