More assistance for the pantry will soon appear in the accounts: Have you got the Lone Star Card ready? Because these days, they will pay up to $1,756 more to purchase food.
Yes, you read it correctly. Here, we explain everything you need to know so you don’t miss out and understand what’s going on with these benefits. Let us try to untangle this mess.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a special program that helps millions of people in the United States, including all 50 states and other territories like Guam and the United States Virgin Islands.
When am I due to receive my SNAP benefits in Texas?
Deposit dates are determined by the last two digits of your EDG number (we know, very technical). If your number ends in 00-03, your money will be delivered on February 16th. But don’t worry, here’s the full breakdown so you don’t have any doubts (dates through the weekend):
- 14-17: February 20
- 18-20: February 21
- 21-24: February 22
- 25-27: February 23
Confused about the EDG? Basically, if you were approved before June 1, 2020, they will deposit you between the 16th and the 28th. If it was after, you would receive between the 1st and 15th. Nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, everything is quite simple.
Several factors influence the maximum SNAP benefits, including the household’s income, assets, and capital, as well as the size of the household in terms of the number of people:
SNAP benefits by household size
Household Size Maximum Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2025 Estimated Average Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2025*
- 1 person: $292 (average $199)
- 2 people: $536 (average $364)
- 3 people: $768 (average $594)
- 4 people: $975 (average $726)
- 5 people: $1,158 (average $845)
- 6 people: $1,390 (average $1,018)
- 7 people: $1,536 (average $1,116)
- 8 people: $1,756 (average $1,317)
- Each additional person: $220
The SNAP EBT card: your new best friend
Consider it a debit card, but instead of spending your pay cheque, it offers SNAP benefits. Here’s how the EBT Card works. You can use it anywhere that accepts EBT (including some farmers’ markets).
To be eligible, you must meet certain income requirements. Don’t worry; the best way to find out is to contact your local human services office. They explain everything and even assist you with the paperwork.
Of course, each case is unique, so don’t assume you’re not eligible without asking. Find the information in your state and apply today, as the US Department of Agriculture has already secured the funds.
The hot gossip: Are they going to ban sodas with SNAP?
Here comes the controversy. A Texas congressman has proposed that sodas, candy, and other snacks not be purchased with benefits. What’s the reason? They say it’s to encourage healthier eating. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brooke Rollins, two members of the new administration, are pushing this idea.
On Fox News, Kennedy stated, “We shouldn’t use taxes to make people eat poison.” Rollins, for his part, questions whether taxpayers want their money to go towards sugary drinks. Is it easy to prohibit it?
Here is the fine print that nobody reads: It turns out that SNAP is governed by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which allows you to buy any edible product except alcohol, tobacco, and ready-made hot food. To change this, Congress would have to amend the law, or states would have to seek special permission. And this is not so simple.
In recent years, several states have attempted to ban bottled water, French fries, and even steaks. So far, none has prospered. Because? Because there is a debate: is it fair to limit what people can buy with their benefits? Or is it about promoting nutrition without prohibiting it?
