SNAP is not ending, but your benefits may change if you lose work or income

SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps) is a permanent federal program. It will not shut down. However, your individual benefits can stop or shrink if your household income rises, you lose work, or your circumstances change in ways that affect how much you receive each month.

The confusion often comes from two things: emergency pandemic rules that ended in 2023, and state-level changes to how programs verify who still qualifies. If your benefits dropped or stopped recently, it was likely because one of those changes happened in your state, not because the program itself ended.

Key Takeaways

  • SNAP is a permanent federal program that will continue operating; individual benefits stop only when household circumstances change or income rises above program limits.
  • Emergency pandemic payments that added extra money to SNAP accounts ended in March 2023 in most states, which caused many households to see their monthly amount drop.
  • States conduct periodic reviews to confirm who still meets income and resource limits; if you did not respond to a renewal notice, your benefits may have been paused.
  • If your benefits stopped or changed, contact your state SNAP office or local department of social services to find out the specific reason and whether you can reapply.

The emergency pandemic payments ended in 2023

From March 2020 through March 2023, SNAP households received extra money each month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These were temporary additions on top of regular benefits. In March 2023, those emergency payments stopped in all states.

If your SNAP account suddenly had less money in it starting in April 2023, that is why. Your regular SNAP benefit did not disappear — the temporary boost did. Your new monthly amount is what you would have received under normal SNAP rules based on your household size and income.

Some states also paused their normal renewal process during the pandemic, meaning they did not check whether households still met the income and resource limits. When that pause ended, states began sending renewal notices again. If you did not respond to a renewal notice, your benefits were paused.

States are reviewing who still meets income limits

SNAP has income limits that vary by household size and state. Your state's SNAP office must periodically verify that your household still qualifies. During the pandemic, many states postponed these reviews. Starting in 2023, states resumed sending renewal notices and checking whether households still met the rules.

When you receive a renewal notice, you must respond within the deadline — usually 10 to 30 days depending on your state. The notice will ask you to confirm your household size, income, and expenses. If you do not respond, your benefits are paused. You can reapply later, but there will be a gap in payments.

If your income has risen above your state's SNAP limit, your benefits will end. If your income is still below the limit, your benefits will continue. The amount you receive depends on your income, household size, and certain deductions your state allows (like rent, utilities, or child care costs).

What to do if your benefits stopped or changed

Contact your state SNAP office or local department of social services. You can usually find the phone number on your SNAP card, in a letter you received, or on your state's SNAP website. Tell them your case number and ask why your benefits changed.

Common reasons include: you did not respond to a renewal notice, your income rose, a household member's status changed, or the emergency payments ended. The office can tell you exactly what happened to your case and what you need to do next.

If you did not respond to a renewal notice, you can usually reapply right away. If your income has risen above the limit, you may not be able to receive SNAP until your income drops again. If there was an error in how your case was processed, the office can correct it and restore your benefits.

SNAP income limits and how they work

SNAP income limits are set by the federal government but vary slightly by state and household size. As of 2024, the gross monthly income limit for a single person is around $1,400 to $1,500 in most states, and for a family of four around $2,900 to $3,000. These numbers change each year and differ by state.

Your income is measured before taxes and deductions. However, SNAP allows certain deductions — such as rent, utilities, child care, and medical expenses — that can lower your countable income. This means you might have a gross income above the limit but still may have access to for SNAP because of these deductions.

To find your state's exact income limits and deductions, visit your state SNAP office website or call the number on your SNAP card. The rules are specific to your state and change annually.

How to check your SNAP status

You can check your current SNAP balance and transaction history using your SNAP card at an ATM, online through your state's portal, or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. This will show you how much money you have available and when your last deposit was.

If you have not received a deposit in more than a month, or if you received a notice saying your case was closed, contact your state SNAP office. Do not wait — the sooner you reach out, the sooner they can tell you what happened and whether you need to take action.

Many states also have online portals where you can log in with your case number to see your benefit amount, renewal deadline, and any pending notices. Check your state's SNAP website to see if this is available where you live.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SNAP being cut or eliminated?

No. SNAP is a permanent federal program that has been in place since 1964. Individual benefits may stop if your income rises or circumstances change, but the program itself will not end. The emergency pandemic payments that ended in 2023 were temporary additions, not the core program.

What if I missed the deadline to renew my SNAP?

Your benefits were paused, but you can reapply. Contact your state SNAP office or local department of social services and ask to submit a new application. Processing usually takes 7 to 30 days depending on your state. Bring proof of income, household size, and expenses to speed up the process.

Can I get SNAP if my income is above the limit?

It depends on your deductions. SNAP allows you to subtract certain costs — rent, utilities, child care, medical expenses — from your gross income. If your income minus these deductions falls below the limit, you may still may have access to. Contact your state SNAP office to find out.

Why did my SNAP amount go down but I did not get a notice?

The most common reason is that the emergency pandemic payments ended in March 2023. Your regular SNAP benefit continued, but the temporary extra money stopped. If your amount dropped for a different reason, contact your state SNAP office to ask what changed in your case.

How do I know if I still may have access to for SNAP?

Your state SNAP office will send you a renewal notice when it is time to verify your case. You must respond by the deadline shown on the notice. If you are unsure whether you still meet the income limit, call your state SNAP office and give them your current household income and size — they can tell you right away.