Major Changes Revealed for Texas SNAP Benefits via Lone Star Card

Based on current figures from the United States Census Department there are just over 2.3 million people living in the city of Houston, Texas. That number is about 1,000,000 less than the number of households in Texas that receive monthly stipends via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

You probably are more familiar with that program from its acronym, SNAP. Or perhaps you are more familiar with the program as it's called Your Texas Benefits via the Lone Star Card. Roughly 3,400,000 Texas households receive monthly benefits via the Your Texas Benefits program and no, they aren't all in Houston.

The benefits are used by families to purchase nutritious foods that qualify under the very specific guidelines of the program. If you'd like to know more about who qualifies for the benefits and exactly what those benefits are, click here. 

Major Changes Coming For Your Texas Benefits / SNAP Payments

As prices on certain items have risen over the past few months it has been harder and harder for all of us in Texas to make ends meet. For those using Lone Star Card benefits where the amount of buying power is fairly stagnant, we have some good news. As of this week, your monthly stipend to help feed your family will be increasing.

The new adjustments are designed to help offset the rising cost of food and other essential items that SNAP helps people cover. The changes to the program began officially on Tuesday, October 1st.  And thanks to this Cost of Living Adjustment, you'll now have a little more room on your Lone Star Card to get the items you need for your family.

Here is how the adjusted benefits look through September of next year.

• 1 person household - $292
• 2 person household - $536
• 3 person household - $768
• 4 person household- $975
• 5 person household - $1,158
• 6 person household - $1,390
• 7 person household - $1,536
• 8 person household - $1,756
• Each additional person adds $220 to the monthly total.

We should note that in Texas almost 12% of the population relies on these benefits. Our neighbor, Louisiana is ranked third in the nation in SNAP participation, only New Mexico and the District of Columbia have higher participation rates.

If you need assistance with your family food budget, you might qualify for Your Texas Benefits and the services that are offered via that agency, follow this link for eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.