COLA Memo FY2021 (246.34 KB)
| DATE: | July 29, 2020 |
| SUBJECT: | SNAP – Fiscal Year 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustments |
| TO: | All State Agencies |
This memorandum provides the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, COLAs are effective as of Oct. 1, 2020.
Attached are FY 2021 COLAs for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Maximum allotments will increase for the 48 states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a family of four receiving a maximum allotment in the 48 states and D.C., benefits will be $680. Maximum allotments for a family of four will increase to a range of $837 to $1,300 in Alaska, to $1,252 in Hawaii, to $1,002 in Guam, and to $874 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The minimum benefit for the 48 states and D.C. will remain unchanged at $16 and will increase in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The shelter cap value increased by $17 to $586 for the 48 states and D.C. The shelter cap values for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also increased. The maximum homeless shelter deduction increased slightly to $156.74 for the 48 states, D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgins Islands. The minimum standard deduction for household sizes 1 through 3 remained unchanged at $167 a month for the 48 states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also experienced no changes in their standard deduction amounts for household sizes 1 through 3, with the exception of an increase in the minimum standard deduction for a household of 3 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The resource limit for households will remain unchanged for the 48 states and D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands at $2,250. The resource limit for households where at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled, will also remain unchanged at $3,500. Regional offices should ensure that their states are apprised of these changes. State agencies with questions regarding these adjustments should contact their respective regional office representatives. regional office staff with questions should contact the Certification Policy Branch at the national office.
Regional offices should ensure that their states are apprised of these changes. State agencies with questions regarding these adjustments should contact their respective regional office representatives.
Sasha Gersten-Paal
Director
Program Development Division