SNAP benefits went up October 2026
Every October, SNAP (the food assistance program, called FAP in Michigan) adjusts its
benefit amounts for the cost of living. This year's increase took effect **October 1,
2026**, and it is bigger than last year's.
The new maximum amounts
- Single person: $298 → $306 per month (+$8)
- Family of four: $994 → $1,023 per month (+$29)
Amounts for other household sizes sit between those — the full table lives on the
USDA FNS eligibility page, and
Michigan applies the 48-state figures (Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands have their own).
The fine print that matters
- These are maximums. Your actual benefit depends on income, deductions, and
household size — many households get less than the max.
- You do not need to reapply. The new amounts land automatically on your EBT card
for October.
- Last year's increase was tiny (about $6 for a single person); this year's is the
largest in a few years, but grocery prices have risen faster than either.
What $306 a month buys in Detroit
The honest answer: further than you'd think, if you shop where the tally points.
Detroit's independent discount grocers and produce markets routinely run cheaper than
the big chains on staples — dried beans, rice, eggs, in-season produce. Two places to
start:
- Detroit discount grocers — the independent stores this site tracks
- Produce markets — Eastern Market merchants and corner fruit markets
For store-by-store price comparisons, [Outlier Media's Detroit grocery price
tracker](https://outliermedia.org/) does exactly that, store by store.
If your benefit is late or wrong
Check your balance on the MI Bridges portal or
call MDHHS. If you need food before it's sorted, [Detroit pantry schedules and the
Forgotten Harvest hotline](/detroit/food-pantries/) are on this site — no paperwork
required at a mobile distribution.
Need food now? Pantry schedules and the hotline live here.