Skip to main content
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States Government.
Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA-FNS
  • COVID-19
  • Contact Us
  • Report Fraud
  • Ask USDA
  • USDA.gov
USDA-FNS
  • Home
    • Data & Research
    • Research & Analysis
    • Program Data
    • Child Nutrition Tables
    • Food Distribution Program Tables
    • SNAP Tables
    • Puerto Rico NAP Tables
    • WIC Data Tables
    • Grants
    • Financial Management
    • Newsroom
    • Farm Bill
    • Federal Register Documents
    • FNS Blogs
    • FNS Infographics
    • FNS Press Releases
    • Notice to Stakeholders
    • USDA Press Releases
    • USDA Blogs
    • Webinars & Videos
    • Contact FNS Press Office
    • Resources
    • Fact Sheets
    • Federal Register
    • Guidance Documents
    • Policy Memos
    • Videos/Webinars
    • All Resources
    • Our Agency
    • Our Administrator
    • Our Deputy Under Secretary
    • Contact us
    • Civil Rights
    • Core Nutrition Messages
    • FNS Partnerships
    • Freedom of Information Act
    • FNS Human Resources
    • State Systems Office
    • Programs
    • Child and Adult Care Food Program
    • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
    • Community Food Systems
    • Commodity Supplemental Food Program
    • Farmers Market Nutrition Program
    • FNS Disaster Assistance
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
    • Food Safety
    • National School Lunch Program
    • School Breakfast Program
    • Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
    • SNAP
    • Special Milk Program
    • Summer Food Service Program
    • Team Nutrition
    • TEFAP
    • USDA Foods in Schools
    • WIC

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Resource type
Regulations
Resource materials
FY 2021 Income Eligibility Standards
FY 2021 Maximum Allotments and Deductions
FY 2021 Maximum Allotments and Deductions - Temporary Increase due to COVID-19
FY 2021 Maximum Allotments for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and US Virgin Islands
FY 2021 Maximum Allotments for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and US Virgin Islands - Temporary Increase due to COVID-19
FY 2021 Minimum Allotments
FY 2021 Minimum Allotments - Temporary Increase due to COVID-19

We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. The fiscal year begins on October 1st. The changes are based on changes in the cost of living. Cost of living is the amount of money needed to support a basic standard of living.

The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) calculates the cost of a market basket for a family of four. TFP is an estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of how much it costs to provide nutritious, low-cost meals for a household. Maximum allotments are calculated from this cost every June.

The calculation takes economies of scale into account. Smaller households get slightly more per person than the four-person household. Households larger than four people get slightly less per person.

Income eligibility standards are set by law. Gross monthly income limits are set at 130 percent of the poverty level for the household size. Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made Net monthly income limits are set at 100 percent of poverty. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

Income Eligibility Standards
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

 

Maximum Allotments and Deductions
2021-2 2021-1 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014-2* 2014-1*
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009-2 2009-1 2008 2007 2006 2005

 

Maximum Allotments for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands
2021-2 2021-1 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014-2* 2014-1*
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009-2 2009-1 2008 2007 2006 2005

 

Minimum SNAP Allotment
2021-2 2021-1 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

* pre ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009)

12/31/2020
  • Home
  • Data & Research
  • Grants
  • Newsroom
  • Resources
  • Our Agency
  • Programs
  • USDA
  • USA.gov
  • WhiteHouse.gov
  • FNS PartnerWeb.gov
  • No Fear Act
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Discrimination Statement
  • Civil Rights
  • FOIA
  • Information Quality
  • Peer Review
  • Accessibility

Sign up for Updates

USDA-FNS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Gov Delivery
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • Youtube