SNAP Maximum Benefits by Household Size
The federal government caps SNAP benefits by household size, and the caps reset every October. These are the official fiscal 2027 maximums, in effect October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Your actual benefit will usually be lower: the maximum is the ceiling, explained below.
Maximum monthly SNAP benefit, 48 states and DC
| Household size | Per month | Per week | Per day | Per year | FY2026 max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household of 1 | $306 | $70.62 | $10.06 | $3,672 | $298 |
| Household of 2 | $562 | $129.69 | $18.48 | $6,744 | $546 |
| Household of 3 | $808 | $186.46 | $26.56 | $9,696 | $785 |
| Household of 4 | $1,023 | $236.08 | $33.63 | $12,276 | $994 |
| Household of 5 | $1,217 | $280.85 | $40.01 | $14,604 | $1,183 |
| Household of 6 | $1,463 | $337.62 | $48.10 | $17,556 | $1,421 |
| Household of 7 | $1,616 | $372.92 | $53.13 | $19,392 | $1,571 |
| Household of 8 | $1,841 | $424.85 | $60.53 | $22,092 | $1,789 |
Weekly is monthly times 12 divided by 52; daily is the annual amount divided by 365. Tap a household size for its full page, including a worked example with real income.
Bigger than eight?
Households of 9 to 17 add $225 for each additional person past eight: 9 people up to $2,066 a month, 10 up to $2,291, 12 up to $2,741.
The smallest households
Eligible households of one or two people are guaranteed at least the minimum benefit of $25 a month in fiscal 2027, even if the benefit formula works out to less.
The maximum is a ceiling, not a promise
The maximum equals the cost of the USDA thrifty food plan, the bare-bones healthy minimum. Your real benefit is the maximum minus 30% of your household's net income after deductions, and income limits decide eligibility first. Two households of the same size can receive very different amounts, and both can be right. For the food costs these maximums are built from, see USDA grocery costs by family size, and stretch whatever you receive with the grocery budget calculator and the grocery budget playbook.
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Food costs more in these areas, so USDA publishes separate maximums. Alaska has three: urban, rural 1 and rural 2.
Alaska
| Household size | Urban | Rural 1 | Rural 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $392 | $499 | $608 |
| 2 | $718 | $916 | $1,115 |
| 3 | $1,032 | $1,316 | $1,602 |
| 4 | $1,306 | $1,666 | $2,027 |
| 5 | $1,555 | $1,982 | $2,413 |
| 6 | $1,868 | $2,382 | $2,900 |
| 7 | $2,064 | $2,632 | $3,204 |
| 8 | $2,352 | $2,999 | $3,650 |
| Each additional person (9 to 17) | $287 | $366 | $446 |
| Households of 18 or more | $4,965 | $6,331 | $7,705 |
Hawaii
| Household size | Maximum / month |
|---|---|
| 1 | $496 |
| 2 | $910 |
| 3 | $1,307 |
| 4 | $1,655 |
| 5 | $1,969 |
| 6 | $2,367 |
| 7 | $2,615 |
| 8 | $2,979 |
| Each additional person (9 to 17) | $364 |
| Households of 18 or more | $6,289 |
Guam
| Household size | Maximum / month |
|---|---|
| 1 | $452 |
| 2 | $829 |
| 3 | $1,191 |
| 4 | $1,507 |
| 5 | $1,794 |
| 6 | $2,156 |
| 7 | $2,382 |
| 8 | $2,714 |
| Each additional person (9 to 17) | $331 |
| Households of 18 or more | $5,729 |
U.S. Virgin Islands
| Household size | Maximum / month |
|---|---|
| 1 | $394 |
| 2 | $723 |
| 3 | $1,039 |
| 4 | $1,315 |
| 5 | $1,565 |
| 6 | $1,880 |
| 7 | $2,078 |
| 8 | $2,367 |
| Each additional person (9 to 17) | $289 |
| Households of 18 or more | $4,997 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in fiscal 2027?
It depends on household size: $306 a month for one person up to $1,841 for eight, in the 48 contiguous states and DC. A household of four tops out at $1,023 a month.
When do the fiscal 2027 SNAP amounts apply?
October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. USDA refreshes the table every October from the thrifty food plan.
What if my household has more than 8 people?
Add $225 for each person past eight, for households of 9 to 17: a household of 9 can receive up to $2,066 a month, and 12 up to $2,741, before the income test.
Is the maximum what I will actually get?
Only if your household has no countable income. Benefits are the maximum minus 30% of net income, so most working households receive less than the ceiling on this page.
Why are Alaska and Hawaii amounts higher?
Food costs more there, so USDA sets separate, higher maximums for Alaska (three area types), Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The full official tables are below.
Keep exploring
Tools: Grocery budget calculator · Family budget planner · USDA grocery costs by family size
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Fiscal Year 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (August 21, 2026) and the official FNS FY2027 maximum allotment tables for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, retrieved 2026-10-13. Amounts are the federal maximums for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Your actual benefit depends on your household's income and deductions; your state SNAP agency makes the final call.