Policy Memo (2.73 MB)
| DATE: | July 24, 2019 |
| SUBJECT: | SNAP - Fiscal Year 2020 Cost-of-Living Adjustments |
| TO: | All Regional Director Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program |
This memorandum provides the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program maximum allotments, income eligibility standards and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2019.
Attached are FY 2020 COLAs for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Maximum allotments will increase for the 48 states and D.C., Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Alaska. For a family of four receiving a maximum allotment in the 48 states and D.C., benefits will be $646. Maximum allotments for Hawaii will decrease slightly to $1,189 for a family of four. The minimum benefit for the 48 states and D.C. will increase to $16.
The shelter cap value increased by $17 to $569 for the 48 states and D.C. The shelter cap values for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also increased. The minimum standard deduction for household sizes 1 through 3 increased to $ 167 a month for the 48 states and D.C. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also experienced increases in their standard deduction amounts.
The resource limit for households will remain unchanged for the 48 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands at $2,250. The resource limit for households where at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled, will also remain unchanged at $3,500.
Regional offices should ensure that their states are apprised of these changes. State agencies with questions regarding these adjustments should contact their respective regional office representatives.
Lizbeth Silbermann
Director
Program Development Division