It’s a new year and with the continued increase in food prices, one of the questions we have received from Texas SNAP recipients is whether there will be an increase in Texas food stamps benefits. Specifically, will there be a cost of living adjustment to food stamps benefits in 2022 to make up for the increase in food prices? In this post, we will explain in detail what the 2022 Texas Stamps Increase will be, the income limits to qualify for benefits, and how much a family of 4 or 5 will get in SNAP benefits.
Additionally, we will provide a list of other food stamps changes in 2022 that may affect your benefits.
2022 Texas Food Stamps Increase
If you are approved for food stamps in Texas, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- Total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
The table below shows the maximum food stamps benefits for households with zero income.
As your income increases, your Texas SNAP benefit amount goes down.
Household Size | Texas SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment |
1 | $250 |
2 | $459 |
3 | $658 |
4 | $835 |
5 | $992 |
6 | $1,190 |
7 | $1,316 |
8 | $1,504 |
Each Additional Member: | +$188 |
How Much will a Family of 4 Get in Food Stamps?
Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 4 will get in Texas SNAP benefits.
First, we need to start with the household income.
If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).
Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.
Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 4 could receive in Texas SNAP is $835.
The result is the amount of your monthly Texas SNAP benefits for a family of 4.
Here’s an example:
Example: Samantha and her family of four (4) have $1,600 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,600) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$1,600 Net Income for Samantha’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 480 Countable Income
$ 835 Maximum SNAP for 4 persons
-$480 Countable income
$ 355 Monthly SNAP benefits for Samantha’s family
How much will a Family of 5 get in Texas SNAP?
Using the same example above, we are going to calculate how much Samantha’s family will get if they were a family of 5 with the same $1,800 net income.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 5 could receive in Texas SNAP is $992.
Example: Samantha and his family of five (five) have $1,800 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,800) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$ 1,800 Net Income for Samantha’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 540 Countable Income
$ 992 Maximum SNAP for 5 persons
-$540 Countable income
$ 452 Monthly SNAP benefits for Samantha’s family
SNAP Emergency Allotment Approved Through July 2022
Texas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will continue to get an extra monthly emergency payment at least through July 2022.
That is because the Biden administration extended the U.S. coronavirus public health emergency, now more than two years old, for another 90 days on April 12th, 2022.
This means that benefit programs that were implemented to support the most vulnerable Americans during the pandemic, including extra SNAP benefit payments will continue at least through July 2022.
In addition, The Department of Health and Human Services has promised that it will give states a 60-day advance notice before the emergency declaration is ended.
Therefore, it is possible that the extra SNAP benefits could be issued through September 2022 before they are terminated.
About Extra SNAP Benefits
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP recipients have been receiving extra monthly emergency allotments since April 2020.
On January 15, 2022, the Biden administration extended the federal emergency declaration due to the pandemic for an additional 90 days; therefore, the SNAP emergency allotment payments will continue through May – due to an automatic extra month provided by the program rules.
Households that are already eligible for the maximum benefit amount will receive an extra $95 per month.
Additionally, households that are close to the maximum (less than $95 away) will be guaranteed emergency allotments of $95 per household.
For the maximum SNAP benefits by household size for 2022, see the table above.
Other Food Stamps Changes in 2022
Here are the other Texas SNAP changes in 2022 that may affect your benefits:
Updated Texas Income Limits for 2022
The biggest factor when determining if you are eligible for food stamp benefits is your household income.
Each year, the USDA is responsible for setting the Income Eligibility Standards for SNAP. These standards are then used to perform an income test on all households that apply for food stamp benefits.
The income test is required for all households unless your household is already receiving cash assistance benefits from the federal government or your state.
Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), to be potentially eligible for Texas SNAP benefits.
If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.
The Texas SNAP Income Limit for 2021-2022 is based on your household’s total income and size.
To see if your household’s income meets the fiscal year 2022 SNAP Eligibility Requirements, use the chart below:
SNAP Income Limits in Texas (Oct. 1, 2021, through Sep. 30, 2022)
Texas SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022 | |||
Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |||
Household Size | Texas SNAP Maximum Gross Annual Income (130% of FPIG) | Maximum Net Annual Income (100% of FPIG) | Maximum Gross Annual Income for household with member age 60+ or disabled (165% of FPIG) |
1 | $16,752 | $12,888 | $21,252 |
2 | $22,656 | $17,424 | $28,752 |
3 | $28,548 | $21,960 | $36,240 |
4 | $34,452 | $26,508 | $43,728 |
5 | $40,356 | $31,044 | $51,216 |
6 | $46,260 | $35,580 | $58,716 |
7 | $52,164 | $40,128 | $66,204 |
8 | $58,068 | $44,664 | $73,692 |
New Allowable Deductions for 2022
To calculate your net monthly income, you must deduct approved household expenses. Here are the expenses that can be deducted from your household’s gross income:
If the eligible household size is … | then the standard deduction is … |
---|---|
Three or less | $177 |
Four | $184 |
Five | $215 |
Six or more | $246 |
Here are the other allowable deductions:
- Standard medical expense — $170 (minus $35)
- Actual medical expense (minus $35)
- Homeless shelter standard — $159.73
- Maximum excess shelter — $597
- Standard utility allowance — $367
- Basic utility allowance — $345
- Phone standard — $38
2022 Texas Food Stamps Increase Summary
We hope this post on the 2022 Texas Food Stamps Increase was helpful.
If you need additional help regarding Texas SNAP or EBT, please let us know in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Texas SNAP and Texas EBT, including:
What can I buy with the Texas Food Stamps card?
Texas Food Stamps EBT Phone Number
Where You Can Use Texas EBT card
How to use Texas SNAP on Amazon for Delivery
Get 50% OFF Amazon Prime with Texas EBT Card