Texas SNAP Recipients: What Changes Starting October 1

Well, it's that time of year in Texas when we are hit with changes to the SNAP program. Most of the time, the changes are minimal, with most people not really feeling the impact of it. A small amount will find themselves eligible, while others will lose their eligibility.

However, this is the first year with major changes that could ultimately impact more people than ever before. There are some big changes we need to talk about, so let's dive right in.

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Monthly Income Limit Changes

Let's start with the monthly income limit changes. This is the gross amount you get paid, not the net take-home amount, and we've seen some slight changes to it this year. According to The Hill, a household of one needs to bring in $1,729 or less per month to qualify for SNAP benefits.

That number rises obviously depending on how many are in your household. The most common number of people in a household is four, and the gross monthly amount you can bring in is $3,575, or $1,787.50 per check before taxes.

SNAP Allotment Amount

This number is also changing a bit based on the number of people in your household. A household of one will receive $306, a household of two will bring in $563, a household of three will receive $808, while a household of four will pull in $1,023.

This is a very slight increase from last year, almost unnoticeable if I'm being honest. A household of four will receive an extra $29 per month from last year, but based on the rising costs of food, that won't necessarily compensate for the rise in costs.

Stricter Work Requirements

Here's something that is a definite change to being eligible for SNAP from previous years, and that's the work requirements. In order to keep your SNAP benefits, here are the general work requirements according to Propel.

-Register for work, if asked by the state
-If asked, you must tell the state about your ability to work or your current work if you're working
-You will have to participate in a SNAP Employment and Training or workfare program if the state asks
-You must accept any job offer extended to you unless there's a good reason to decline
-If you're working at least 30 hours per week or earning at least $217.50 per week, you cannot quit voluntarily or reduce your hours to get under 30

Furthermore, if you are between the working ages of 18-64, you have an additional requirement. According to “ABAWD” work requirements, you need to work 80 hours per month, or participate in a work program for at least 80 hours per month. You can also combine these two things to meet the 80-hour requirement. These requirements must be met in order to keep SNAP benefits longer than three months.

States Shouldering More Of The Cost

Here's the biggest change that may not affect things too much this year, but in the very near future it could. According to USA Today, individual states used to shoulder 50% of the SNAP administrative costs. That all changes October 1, when states will be tasked with covering 75% of the administrative costs. What does that mean for you?

Well, some states may find they can't afford to cover the increase in costs. Some could dramatically cut how much they are able to give out, while some states could be in danger of cutting the program entirely. Texas appears to be ok for now, but no promises for the future.

Other Changes To Be Aware Of

In an article from Propel, roughly 600,000 households could lose some of their monthly SNAP benefit amount thanks to how utility expenses are calculated.

There are also changes to immigrant eligibility. Only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will be able to receive benefits. Previously, certain immigrant groups such as people seeking asylum, refugees, victims of trafficking, and domestic violence survivors who weren't yet residents were able to receive benefits. They will no longer receive those benefits.