Why Did My Food Stamps Go Down This Month? Understanding Your Benefits

It can be really confusing and even a little scary when you check your EBT card and see a lower amount than you expected. You might be asking yourself, “why did my food stamps go down this month?” It’s a common question, and there are several reasons why your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps, might have changed. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand what might be happening and what you can do about it.

The Biggest Reason: Your Income Changed

The most common reason your food stamps went down this month is an increase in your household’s income. SNAP benefits are designed to help families and individuals who have limited income. When your income goes up, even a little bit, the amount of food stamps you receive usually goes down because the program assumes you can now afford to buy more of your own food.

This income could be from a new job, more hours at your current job, a raise, or even income from someone new moving into your home. The SNAP office looks at how much money your whole household brings in each month. If that total goes up, your benefits will likely adjust.

Your Household Size or Composition Changed

The number of people living in your home and who they are makes a big difference in how your food stamp benefits are calculated. If someone moves out of your household, or if a child turns 18 and is no longer considered a dependent, your benefits might change. This is because the SNAP program looks at the total needs and resources of everyone sharing food and living together.

Here are some ways household changes can affect your benefits:

• A grown child moves out on their own.
• An adult family member who contributed to the household income moves away.
• A roommate who was included in your benefits no longer lives with you.

It’s super important to tell your SNAP office about any changes in who lives with you as soon as they happen. They use this information to make sure your benefits are accurate for your current situation.

You Gained New Resources or Assets

Besides income, the SNAP program also looks at your household’s “resources” or “assets.” These are things like money in a bank account. While many households don’t have to worry about asset limits, some do, especially if there isn’t an elderly or disabled person in the household. If you suddenly have more money saved up, or perhaps you inherited something, it could reduce your benefits.

Think of resources as things you own that could be used to buy food. This doesn’t usually include your home or car, but it does include money in checking or savings accounts. If your financial situation has improved and you have more money saved than before, it might push you over the resource limit for your state.

Here’s a quick idea of what might be counted as a resource:

1. Cash on hand
2. Money in checking or savings accounts
3. Certain investments

Always check with your local SNAP office about what counts as a resource in your state and what the limits are. It varies and can be a little complicated!

Changes in Your Deductions

Even if your income stays the same, other things can change the amount of food stamps you get. The SNAP program allows for certain “deductions” from your income. These deductions are like expenses that are subtracted from your gross income to get a lower “net income,” which is then used to calculate your benefits. If your deductions go down, your net income goes up, and your benefits might decrease.

Common deductions include things like housing costs (rent/mortgage, utilities), child care expenses, and sometimes medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members. If your rent went down, your utility bills decreased significantly, or you no longer have a child in daycare, these deductions might be less or disappear entirely.

Let’s look at an example of how deductions can impact benefits:

As you can see, if you’re deducting less money from your income, your ‘countable’ income will appear higher, leading to potentially lower benefits.

Emergency Allotments Have Ended

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states provided extra food stamp benefits called “Emergency Allotments.” These special payments often brought everyone’s benefits up to the maximum possible amount for their household size. However, these emergency benefits were temporary. Most states have now stopped issuing these extra payments.

If you were receiving these extra payments, and your state has ended them, your benefits would naturally go back to your regular, pre-pandemic amount. This could feel like a big drop, but it’s important to remember that it’s your regular benefit level, not a reduction due to a mistake.

Here’s what often happened with emergency allotments:

• They gave every household the maximum SNAP benefit for their size.
• They often added money to people’s EBT cards once a month.
• They were separate from your regular, monthly benefit.

If you noticed a significant drop and haven’t had any other changes, this is a very likely reason for your benefits going down. You can check your state’s SNAP website to see if they are still issuing these extra payments.

State-Specific Program Changes

While SNAP is a federal program, each state runs its own version of it, following federal rules but also having some flexibility. Sometimes, a state might change how it calculates benefits, what deductions are allowed, or even its income limits. These changes aren’t super common, but they can happen and might affect your benefits.

Your state agency might adjust certain factors or limits, especially if there are changes in federal guidelines or state budgets. If a change like this happens, the SNAP office is usually pretty good about letting people know, but it might be through a notice in the mail that you didn’t quite catch.

Consider this table showing how a state might adjust a standard deduction:

Even small changes like these can add up and impact your final benefit amount.

You Didn’t Report a Change on Time

The SNAP program requires households to report certain changes to their income, household size, or resources within a specific timeframe (often 10 days). If you experienced a change that would normally lower your benefits, but you didn’t report it right away, the SNAP office might eventually find out and then adjust your benefits. Sometimes, this adjustment can include needing to pay back benefits if you received too much because a change wasn’t reported.

It’s always better to report changes, even if you’re not sure if they will affect your benefits. Your local SNAP office can tell you exactly what you need to report and when. Keeping them updated helps ensure your benefits are always correct.

Here are some examples of changes you should always report quickly:

• Someone moved into or out of your household.
• Your work hours or pay increased significantly.
• You got a new job or lost a job.

Reporting on time protects you from potential overpayments and makes sure your benefits are accurate for your current needs.

It’s Time for Your Recertification

SNAP benefits aren’t forever; you have to renew them regularly. This process is called “recertification.” When it’s time to recertify, you typically need to fill out new paperwork and often have an interview. During this process, the SNAP office reviews all your information again – your income, household size, and resources – to make sure you still qualify and to determine your new benefit amount.

If your benefits went down right after you went through the recertification process, it’s highly likely that the new information you provided (or that they verified) resulted in a different calculation for your benefits. Even if you don’t think anything has changed, the recertification process is a fresh look at everything, and the numbers might just come out differently.

Seeing your food stamps go down can be upsetting, but it’s important to remember that there are usually clear reasons for it. Whether it’s a change in your income, household, or simply the end of temporary benefits, understanding the cause is the first step. If you’re still confused or think there might be a mistake, don’t hesitate to contact your local SNAP office. They can explain exactly why your benefits changed and help you figure out your next steps. You have the right to ask questions and understand your benefits!