Policy Memo (729.75 KB)
| DATE: | July 31, 2008 |
| SUBJECT: | Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the Maximum supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments |
| TO: | All Regional Directors Food Stamp Program |
Attached are the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Cost-of-Living adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards for the 48 states and D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands. The maximum allotment for a 4-person household has increased from $542 to $588, reflecting an 8.5 percentage increase, the largest Thrifty Food Plan increase in over two decades.
The standards also incorporate the following provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill:
- Increasing the minimum benefit- The minimum benefit amount has been indexed to 8 percent of the one-person Thrifty Food Plan, which effectively increases the minimum allotment for households of one and two persons from $10 to $14 ( .08 x $ 176=$14.08 rounded to the nearest whole dollar). In Guam and the Virgin Islands, the minimum benefit amount has increased from $10 to $21 and $18 , respectively.
- Increasing the minimum standard deduction- The minimum standard deduction has increased from $134 to $144.
These adjustments are scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2008. State agencies that have questions regarding these adjustments should contact their respective regional office representative. Regional office staff who have questions should contact their respective liaison in the Certification Policy Branch.
Arthur T. Foley
Director
Program Development Division