OLGT 2021-71: SNAP: Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) and Standard Utility Allowances Change

At the beginning of each Federal fiscal year, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) adjusts SNAP income standards, deduction amounts, and maximum benefit levels to reflect changes in the cost of living. This is known as the “SNAP COLA.”

The Department also recalculates the Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) every year, per federal rules, and includes the recalculated SUAs in the SNAP COLA. This combined calculation minimizes the frequency of benefit changes communicated to the client and the number of associated notices that a separate recalculation would generate.

The SNAP COLA will be processed over the weekend of September 17, 2021. These adjustments will impact October SNAP benefits.

In addition, this Online Guide update advises staff that the temporary 15% increase in the minimum and maximum SNAP allotments will expire on September 30, 2021.