November SNAP Benefits Changes: FY 2026 Allotments and Work Rules

SNAP benefit changes take effect every October 1 with the start of the federal fiscal year, and most households see the updated amounts on their EBT cards during the November payment cycle. For fiscal year 2026, the maximum monthly allotment for a one-person household in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. rises to $298, gross and net income limits have moved up, and the standard deduction and shelter cap have both increased. The lag between October and November exists because state agencies need time to load the new federal figures and apply them to active cases.

Why the Change Shows Up in November

Each year the USDA recalculates SNAP figures using the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan, a model diet that estimates what a household would spend on basic, nutritious groceries. When food prices rise, the maximum allotment goes up so benefits keep pace with grocery costs. The standard deduction, income limits, and shelter deduction cap adjust at the same time.¹

You don’t need to file anything to trigger the update. Your state agency applies the new numbers automatically once federal figures publish. November is typically the first full month where updated amounts appear consistently across active cases, though exact timing varies by state.

New Maximum Allotments for FY 2026

The maximum allotment is the ceiling based on household size, before any income-based reduction. For October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, the figures for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia are:²

1 person: $298
2 people: $546
3 people: $785
4 people: $994
5 people: $1,183
6 people: $1,421
7 people: $1,571
8 people: $1,789
Each additional person: add $218

Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have higher maximums because food costs more in those areas. Most households receive less than the maximum. SNAP assumes you can put 30 percent of your net income toward food and covers the gap between that amount and the maximum for your size. If your net income is zero, you receive the full amount.

The $24 Minimum Benefit

One- and two-person households that qualify but whose calculation produces a very low figure receive a minimum benefit of $24 per month. Households of three or more have no minimum and can receive as little as $1.

New Income Limits for FY 2026

SNAP applies two income tests, and most households need to pass both. Households where every member is 60 or older or has a disability only need to pass the net income test.

Gross Income Limits (130% of Poverty)

For the 48 contiguous states and D.C., the FY 2026 gross monthly limits are:³

1 person: $1,696
2 people: $2,292
3 people: $2,888
4 people: $3,483
5 people: $4,079
6 people: $4,675
7 people: $5,271
8 people: $5,867
Each additional person: add $596

These are higher than the FY 2025 limits, which were $1,632 for a single person and $5,712 for a household of eight. If your income put you slightly over the line last year, it’s worth reapplying now.

Net Income Limits (100% of Poverty)

After deductions, net monthly income must fall at or below:³

1 person: $1,305
2 people: $1,763
3 people: $2,221
4 people: $2,680
5 people: $3,138
6 people: $3,596
7 people: $4,055
8 people: $4,513
Each additional person: add $459

Roughly 40 states and territories use broad-based categorical eligibility, which raises the gross income ceiling above 130 percent of poverty, usually to 200 percent but sometimes between 150 and 185 percent.⁴ Check with your local office to find out what threshold your state uses.

Updated Deductions That Shape Your Actual Benefit

Before the 30-percent calculation runs, deductions reduce gross income to a lower net figure. Reporting every deductible expense often makes the difference between a token benefit and a meaningful one. The main FY 2026 figures:²

Standard deduction: $209 for households of one to three, $223 for four, $261 for five, and $299 for six or more.
Earned income deduction: 20 percent of gross earnings from a job or self-employment.
Excess shelter deduction: rent, mortgage, utilities, and property taxes that exceed half your income after other deductions, capped at $744 per month for households without an elderly or disabled member. Households with an elderly or disabled member have no cap.
Dependent care deduction: out-of-pocket childcare or disabled-member care needed for someone to work or attend training.
Medical expense deduction: for household members 60 or older or with a disability, unreimbursed medical costs above $35 per month.

Households often leave money on the table by not reporting high utility bills or dependent care costs. If you have expenses in any of these categories, tell your caseworker.

Work Requirements Now Reach Age 54

If you’re between 18 and 54, physically able to work, and have no dependents in your household, you’re classified as an able-bodied adult without dependents. That means a three-month benefit limit within any three-year period unless you work or take part in a training program for at least 80 hours per month.⁵

Before 2023, the cap was age 49. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 raised it in stages, reaching age 54 in FY 2025 and continuing through FY 2026, with the exemption starting at 55.⁶ The expanded age range is scheduled to revert to under-50 on October 1, 2030, unless Congress acts.

The same law added exemptions that override the time limit regardless of age. Veterans with any type of discharge are exempt.⁷ People experiencing homelessness are exempt. Young adults who were in foster care on their 18th birthday are exempt until age 25.⁸ Longstanding exemptions cover pregnancy, a physical or mental condition limiting your ability to work, and living with a minor child. If you think you qualify, report it to your caseworker.

Federal Replacement for Stolen Benefits Has Expired

One change worth knowing about heading into November: federal law required states to replace benefits stolen through card skimming between October 2022 and December 2024, and that authority has expired without being extended.⁹ There is no federal mandate now requiring states to reimburse stolen EBT funds, though some states may still offer replacement through their own policies. If your benefits are stolen, report it to your local SNAP office anyway.

The USDA recommends several steps to lower your skimming risk:

Don’t use obvious PIN combinations like 1234 or 1111.
Change your PIN at least once a month, ideally before your benefit deposit date.
Cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN.
Ignore texts and calls asking for your PIN or card number. Your state agency and EBT processor will never request them by phone or text.
Check your balance frequently and change your PIN immediately if you see charges you didn’t make.

1
Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information
2
Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP FY 2026 Maximum Allotments and Deductions
3
Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP FY 2026 Income Eligibility Standards
4
Food and Nutrition Service. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)
5
eCFR. 7 CFR 273.24 – Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults
6
Federal Register. Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
7
United States Department of Agriculture. SNAP Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – Questions and Answers
8
Administration for Children and Families. SNAP Exceptions for Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Youth Exiting Foster Care
9
Food and Nutrition Service. Addressing Stolen SNAP Benefits