| DATE: | July 31, 2008 |
| SUBJECT: | Cost-of-Living Adjustments to the Maximum supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments |
| TO: | All Regional Directors Food Stamp Program |
Attached are the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Cost-of-Living adjustments to the SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards for the 48 states and D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands. The maximum allotment for a 4-person household has increased from $542 to $588, reflecting an 8.5 percentage increase, the largest Thrifty Food Plan increase in over two decades.
The standards also incorporate the following provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill:
- Increasing the minimum benefit- The minimum benefit amount has been indexed to 8 percent of the one-person Thrifty Food Plan, which effectively increases the minimum allotment for households of one and two persons from $10 to $14 ( .08 x $ 176=$14.08 rounded to the nearest whole dollar). In Guam and the Virgin Islands, the minimum benefit amount has increased from $10 to $21 and $18 , respectively.
- Increasing the minimum standard deduction- The minimum standard deduction has increased from $134 to $144.
These adjustments are scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2008. State agencies that have questions regarding these adjustments should contact their ;respective regional office representative. Regional office staff who have questions should contact their respective liaison in the Certification Policy Branch.
Arthur T. Foley
Director
Program Development Division