SAN ANTONIO – Millions of Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will see changes beginning Oct. 1, including modest increases in monthly payments for many households and tighter eligibility rules expected in the coming months.
The annual increase comes as the federal government adjusts SNAP benefits for inflation, according to an ABC News report. SNAP provides food assistance to low-income households across the country, including families in Texas.
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For a typical one-person household, the monthly benefit will increase by about $8, from $298 to about $306 in most states. A family of four will see benefits rise from about $994 to $1,023 per month, an increase of about $29.
Other changes could make it harder for some households to qualify for benefits.
In the coming months, recipients are expected to face stricter eligibility requirements. States also will be required to cover a larger share of SNAP costs.
States currently cover about 50% of the cost. Starting Oct. 1, that share will increase to 75%, reducing the federal government’s share by 25 percentage points, according to the report.
States with SNAP error rates of 6% or higher will have to pay even more. The error rate measures the percentage of SNAP payments that are overpaid or underpaid.
During fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that only about 10 states had error rates below 6%. Texas was not among them. The state’s error rate was 9.34%.
The changes are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has already reduced benefits for an estimated 5 million Americans.
SNAP recipients should check their accounts after Oct. 1 to see whether their monthly amount has changed. Anyone with questions about eligibility or benefit levels can contact their local SNAP office.
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