FNS Documents & Resources | Food and Nutrition Service

Basic page SNAP and the Thrifty Food Plan

SNAP benefit amounts are updated each year based on the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in June and take effect on Oct. 1. The Thrifty Food Plan is the cost of groceries needed to provide a healthy, budget-conscious diet for a family of four.

11/21/2022

Resource | Infographics The Thrifty Food Plan Re-Evaluation

Congress directed USDA to re-evaluate the Thrifty Food Plan based on “current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance.” The 2021 TFP reflects the latest available data and is designed to meet the needs of low-income Americans in a cost-conscious way.

08/16/2021

Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Estimated Increase in SNAP Benefits - FY 2022

As a result of the Thrifty Food Plan re-evaluation, SNAP-participating households will receive an increase in benefits of , on average, $36 per person – or about $1.20 per day.

08/16/2021

Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0033 SNAP – Emergency Allotments

FNS intends to issue updated SNAP – Emergency Allotments guidance to provide benefits to certain eligible households, including those receiving SNAP benefits at the statutory maximum, that were previously deemed ineligible for emergency allotments by USDA.

04/01/2021

Resource | Policy Memos SNAP - Changes in Combined Application Project Benefit Allotments due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 increases SNAP benefits by raising maximum allotments to 115 percent of the June 2020 value of the Thrifty Food Plan; effective from Jan. 1, 2021 until June 30, 2021.

01/29/2021

Resource | Report USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports (2017 reports)

The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels.

12/03/2017