The month of September is running away, and Texas families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are making their final grocery runs before the fiscal year closes. With just two days left—September 27 and 28—households are leveraging their Lone Star Cards to stretch budgets amid rising food costs.
For many, these benefits are as big as a salary, but changes are looming as the federal government prepares to roll out its annual adjustments for Fiscal Year 2026. Here’s what you need to know about current maximum SNAP benefit amounts and what’s on the horizon for next year.
September 2025 Maximum SNAP Benefits
For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Texas SNAP benefits have been a critical support for low-income households. The maximum monthly allotments, based on household size, are as follows:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,158
- 6 people: $1,390
- 7 people: $1,536
- 8 people: $1,756
- Each additional person: +$220
These amounts, effective since October 1, 2024 and through December 2025, show a modest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from the previous year, designed to keep pace with inflation.
For a family of four, the $975 maximum translates to roughly $8.12 per person per day—a figure that underscores the challenge of securing nutritious meals in a state where grocery prices have climbed steadily. Households with zero net income after deductions qualify for these maximums, while others see benefits scaled based on their financial circumstances.
The last SNAP benefits dates in Texas
In Texas, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are distributed through Lone Star Cards on a staggered schedule based on the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number, which is tied to the recipient’s case. On September 27 and 28, 2025, benefits are issued to households with specific EDG numbers, as the distribution typically spans the first 28 days of each month. Here’s the breakdown for those dates:
- September 27: Households with EDG numbers ending in 9 receive their benefits.
- September 28: Households with EDG numbers ending in 0 receive their benefits.
FY2026 Projections: A Mixed Outlook
Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, starting October 1, 2025, Texas SNAP participants can expect another round of adjustments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ties these changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food, ensuring benefits reflect shifts in purchasing power. E
arly projections, based on recent USDA announcements and economic analyses, suggest a modest increase in maximum benefit amounts for FY2026, though the numbers are not yet set in stone.
Preliminary data indicates that maximum SNAP benefits for the 48 contiguous states, including Texas, could rise by approximately 2-3% over FY2025 levels. For a family of four, this could mean a bump from $975 to around $994-$1,004 per month, though some sources hint at slightly higher figures, potentially reaching $1,050 in certain scenarios. This uptick aligns with inflation trends but falls short of the steeper increases seen in prior years when food prices surged post-pandemic.
Trump introduced tightened requirements for SNAP in Texas
However, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBB), signed into law on July 4, introduces complexities. The legislation caps future re-evaluations of the Thrifty Food Plan—the USDA’s benchmark for SNAP benefits—potentially limiting how much allotments can grow in real terms.
Starting October 1, 2025, the law mandates annual CPI adjustments but restricts significant overhauls of the plan until at least October 2027. This could mean that benefit increases fail to fully match rising grocery costs, squeezing families already stretched thin.
Additionally, changes to eligibility rules under the OBBB Act may affect certain households. For instance, new work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and revised exemptions could tighten access for some Texans. Households without heating or cooling bills separate from rent, and lacking elderly or disabled members, may also see adjustments to their benefits starting November 1, 2025.
