2023 Pennsylvania Food Stamps Increase

It’s a new year and with the continued increase in food prices, one of the questions we have received from Pennsylvania SNAP recipients is whether there will be an increase in Pennsylvania food stamps benefits. Specifically, will there be a cost of living adjustment to food stamps benefits in 2023 to make up for the increase in food prices? In this post, we will explain in detail what the 2023 Pennsylvania 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 2023 that may affect your benefits.

If you are approved for food stamps in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania SNAP benefit amount goes down.

Pennsylvania SNAP Maximum Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2023
Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023
Household Size	Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment
1	$281
2	$516
3	$740
4	$939
5	$1,116
6	$1,339
7	$1,480
8	$1,691
Each Additional Household Member: Add	$211

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania SNAP is $939.

The result is the amount of your monthly Pennsylvania SNAP benefits for a family of 4.

Here’s an example:

Example: Debbie and her family of four (4) have $1,400 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,400) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:

$1,400 Net Income for Debbie’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 420 Countable Income
$ 939 Maximum SNAP for 4 persons
-$420 Countable income
$ 519 Monthly SNAP benefits for Debbie’s family

How much will a Family of 5 get in Pennsylvania SNAP?

Using the same example above, we are going to calculate how much Debbie’s family will get if they were a family of 5 with the same $1,830 net income.

From the table above, the maximum a household of 5 could receive in Pennsylvania SNAP is $1,116

Example: Debbie and his family of five (five) have $1,830 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,830) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:

$ 1,830 Net Income for Debbie’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 549 Countable Income
$ 1,116 Maximum SNAP for 5 persons
-$549 Countable income
$ 567 Monthly SNAP benefits for Debbie’s family

SNAP Emergency Allotment Approved Through January 2023

Pennsylvania Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will continue to get an extra monthly emergency payment through January 2023.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP recipients have been receiving extra monthly emergency allotments since April 2020.

On October 31, 2022, the Biden administration is expected to extend the federal emergency declaration due to the pandemic for an additional 90 days; therefore, the SNAP emergency allotment payments will continue through January 2023 – 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 2022/2023, see the table above.

How much in extra SNAP benefits will I get?

Here’s an example of how much you are likely to get in extra SNAP benefits:

If you are a 3-person household, the maximum benefit starting October 1, 2022, is $740 per month.

Therefore, if your family is only eligible for $200 in SNAP benefits per month, you will get a second emergency allotment of $540 to bring you up to the maximum.

However, if you receive the maximum SNAP allowed for your household size in your first monthly payment, you will get a second emergency allotment of $95 (regardless of household size).

Households whose first payment is close to the maximum (less than $95 away) will get emergency allotments of $95 per household.

Other Food Stamps Changes in 2023

Here are the other Pennsylvania SNAP changes in 2023 that may affect your benefits:

Updated Pennsylvania Income Limits for 2023

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 Pennsylvania SNAP benefits.

If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.

The Pennsylvania SNAP Income Limit for 2022-2023 is based on your household’s total income and size.

To see if your household’s income meets the fiscal year 2023 SNAP Eligibility Requirements, use the chart below:

SNAP Income Limits in Pennsylvania (Oct. 1, 2022, through Sep. 30, 2023)

Pennsylvania SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023
Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023
Household Size	Income Guidelines for Households with an Elderly or Disabled Member and Households with Dependent Care Expenses (200% of FPL)	Income Guidelines for Households with Earned Income (no elderly or disabled member/ 150% of Federal Poverty Line)	Income Guidelines for Households without Earned Income (no elderly or disabled member/ 130% of Federal Poverty Line)	Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL)
1	$2,265	$1,699	$1,473	$1,133
2	$3,052	$2,289	$1,984	$1,526
3	$3,839	$2,879	$2,495	$1,920
4	$4,625	$3,469	$3,007	$2,313
5	$5,412	$4,059	$3,518	$2,706
6	$6,199	$4,649	$4,029	$3,100
7	$6,985	$5,239	$4,541	$3,493
8	$7,772	$5,829	$5,052	$3,886
Each Additional Household Member: Add	$787	$590	$512	$394

New Allowable Deductions for 2023

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:

20% deduction from Earned Income

Standard deduction of $193 for households with 1 to 4 people and $225 for households with 5 people and $226 for households with 6 or more people.
Dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education
A deduction for elderly or disabled member’s medical expenses that exceed $35 a month (if not paid by insurance or someone else)

Any legally owed child support payments can be deducted
Homeless Household’s shelter costs deduction of $166.81.
A deduction for excess shelter costs that exceed more than half of the household’s income (after the other deductions listed above & cannot exceed $624 unless a household member is elderly or disabled).