In the United States, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which used to be called “food stamps,” helps millions of families every month buy healthy food that can improve their health.
In December, this is when families who are eligible for SNAP will get their money. Each state has its own schedule, but this is a general guideline.
What is the intention of the SNAP benefits in the United States?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SNAP program fights food poverty by giving out Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, which can be used like a debit card to buy certain food items.
These cards make sure that people can get basic goods and help families make healthy meals. You can eat a healthy, well-balanced diet by eating things like fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, bread, whole grains, cereals, and even seeds and plants that grow food.
But SNAP benefits can not be used to buy things that are not food, like cleaning supplies, because the program is meant to help people eat healthier.
It is also illegal to bring in alcohol, tobacco products, vitamins, supplements, prescription drugs, and hot foods that are ready to eat right away.
At the state level, SNAP is managed by the Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of funding the program and setting its rules.
At the federal level, the Department of Agriculture processes applications, decides who is eligible, and sends out payments.
Keep in mind that the dates may be different from state to state depending on how resources are distributed. Here is a list of all 50 SNAP states and the dates that their December benefits begin and end.
- Alabama: December 4 to 23
- Alaska: December 1
- Arizona: December 1 to 13
- Arkansas: December 4 to 13
- California: December 1 to 10
- Colorado: December 1 to 10
- Connecticut: December 1 to 3
- Delaware: December 2 to 23
- District of Columbia: December 1 to 10
- Florida: December 1 to 28
- Georgia: December 5 to 23
- Guam: December 1 to 10
- Hawaii: December 3 to 5
- Idaho: December 1 to 10
- Illinois: December 1 to 20
- Indiana: December 5 to 23
- Iowa: December 1 to 10
- Kansas: December 1 to 10
- Kentucky: December 1 to 19
- Louisiana: December 1 to 23
- Maine: December 10 to 14
- Maryland: December 4 to 23
- Massachusetts: December 1 to 14
- Michigan: December 3 to 21
- Minnesota: December 4 to 13
- Mississippi: December 4 to 21
- Missouri: December 1 to 22
- Montana: December 2 to 6
- Nebraska: December 1 to 5
- Nevada: December 1 to 10
- New Hampshire: December 5
- New Jersey: December 1 to 5
- New Mexico: December 1 to 20
- New York: December 1 to 9
- North Carolina: December 3 to 21
- North Dakota: December 1
- Ohio: December 2 to 20
- Oklahoma: December 1 to 10
- Oregon: December 1 to 9
- Pennsylvania: December 3 to 14
- Puerto Rico: December 4 to 22
- Rhode Island: December 1
- South Carolina: December 1 to 19
- South Dakota: December 10
- Tennessee: December 1 to 20
- Texas: December 1 to 28
- Utah: December 5, 11, and 15
- Virgin Islands: December 1
- Vermont: December 1
- Virginia: December 1 to 7
- Washington: December 1 to 20
- West Virginia: December 1 to 9
- Wisconsin: December 1 to 15
- Wyoming: December 1 to 4
How much money will eligible households receive in SNAP benefits next month?
The amount of SNAP benefits depends on the number of people living in the household and their gross and net income.
Following this year’s SNAP benefits rules, we would like to share with you all the possible payment amounts because recipients need to know how much they get:
- 1 household member: $292
- 2 members: $536
- 3 members: $768
- 4 members: $975
- 5 members: $1,158
- 6 members: $1,390
- 7 members: $1,536
- 8 members: $1,756
- Each additional member: +$220
