Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income families buy food. In Texas, Florida, the rest of the 50 states, Washington, DC, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, the most a family of eight can get in May 2025 is $1,756. Different states have different requirements for who can apply, how to apply, and when to get paid, but the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets some guidelines.
The rise to $1,756 is due to yearly adjustments, or the famous “COLA,” that were set to take effect in fiscal year 2025 (ending on September 30, 2025) and are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). In line with federal rules, this amount refers to all 50 US states, as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Every year, the limits on income and assets are changed to reflect changes in family size and other factors.
Payments are being sent from the two states with the most SNAP users
These are the two “witness” states that will help us talk about how SNAP payments have changed over time in the US. The program is run by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in Texas, where more than 3.2 million people will benefit in 2025.
In Texas, you can’t make more than 165% of the government poverty level or have more than $5,000 in assets. For older or disabled people, programs like the Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP) make the application process easier. The Lone Star Card is used to send payments, and the times are set by the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG).
Texas is a great place to study SNAP because it has a lot of people from different backgrounds, a big population, and policies like TSAP. The way it handles things is emphasized by its focus on digital ease (YourTexasBenefits.com) and care for weaker groups.
Let’s talk about Florida. How does SNAP work there?
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) runs SNAP in Florida. In 2025, 2.97 million people will receive from it. As the third state to join, it faces problems that smaller states don’t have to deal with. For example, the high cost of living in tourist towns and the fact that jobs in industries like agriculture and services change with the seasons.
In contrast to Texas, Florida does not put limits on how much most families can own. Their maximum gross income is higher (200% of the government poverty level), and programs like SUNCAP automatically include people who get SSI. Payments are sent through an EBT card, and they are sent out in stages based on the case number.
Florida is a good example of how flexible SNAP can be because it doesn’t have any limits on income and can be changed to fit the needs of mobile groups like temporary workers. Other states’ government departments often look to Florida’s focus on efficiency and its digital infrastructure (ACCESS Florida) as a model.
SNAP payment dates coming up soon in Florida and Texas
In Texas and Florida, the groups that will get SNAP benefits between May 12 and May 20, 2025, will depend on their case or EDG numbers. The groups that get benefits will change depending on the date of approval.