Here’s the bottom line first: SNAP benefits are going up on October 1, 2025, and EBT security protections are getting stronger. If you’re a senior on a fixed income, a caregiver helping a loved one, or a family stretching every dollar, these changes matter. Below, we explain what’s changing, when it takes effect, and the practical steps you can take to maximize your benefits and protect your EBT card.
Key takeaways at a glance
- SNAP benefits will increase nationwide on Oct. 1, 2025 (start of FY 2026) as part of the annual cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) required by law, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) FY 2026 COLA memo.
- For a family of four in the 48 states and D.C. (this includes Florida), the maximum allotment will be $994 per month starting Oct. 1, 2025. Amounts differ in Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (FNS memo).
- Income eligibility standards and deductions also adjust on Oct. 1, 2025; states must apply the new standards for all new applications and recertifications (FNS COLA memo).
- EBT security is being modernized: FNS is pushing states toward chip (EMV) EBT cards and optional card‑security features like transaction alerts, card freezes, and blocking high‑risk transactions to reduce theft from skimming and cloning (USDA OIG inspection report; FNS update on EBT modernization).
- Online purchasing with SNAP continues to tighten security; FNS has implemented specifications that allow requiring a security code and expiration date for internet purchases to reduce fraud (FNS retailer/modernization materials).
What’s changing with SNAP benefits on Oct. 1, 2025
Each year, SNAP adjusts benefit amounts and certain eligibility figures based on the cost of living. For Fiscal Year 2026 (beginning Oct. 1, 2025):
- Maximum benefit increase: For households in the 48 states and D.C. (Florida included), the maximum monthly allotment for a family of four will be $994 starting Oct. 1, 2025, per the official FNS COLA notice.
- Territorial and Alaska adjustments: The maximum for a family of four will range from $1,285 to $1,995 in Alaska, be $1,465 in Guam, and $1,278 in the U.S. Virgin Islands (FNS COLA memo).
Why this matters in Florida: The maximum allotment is used in calculating your actual benefit after factoring in countable income and deductions. Even if you don’t receive the maximum, this increase can translate to more dollars on your EBT card, helping offset food inflation. The same COLA also updates income eligibility standards and key deductions, which can help some households qualify or qualify for higher benefits. The federal memo confirms these changes are effective with October issuances (FNS COLA memo).
Participation remains high; need is real
SNAP served an average of 40.1 million people in 21.4 million households in FY 2023, and most SNAP households included a child, an older adult, or a person with a disability, according to FNS’s FY 2023 Characteristics report (USDA FNS Characteristics report). FNS’s SNAP Data Tables show state‑level participation and benefits through May 2025, with the page updated Aug. 22, 2025. For Tampa Bay families, this confirms SNAP remains a critical nutrition lifeline as food prices and budgets continue to strain.
EBT security: What’s changing, and how you can protect your card today
EBT theft through skimming, cloning, and other electronic methods rose in recent years. FNS and USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) have been pushing a multi‑pronged response:
What FNS and partners are doing
- Chip (EMV) EBT cards: FNS has encouraged states to move from magnetic‑stripe to chip cards for stronger security, with early adopters working toward transitions in 2025 (USDA OIG report; FNS EBT modernization materials). FNS has also engaged retailers and payment processors to make sure point‑of‑sale (POS) systems are ready for chip and contactless payments.
- Required rulemaking: Section 501(a)(2) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, directs USDA to set regulations requiring state anti‑theft measures (like anti‑skimming protections). FNS has indicated it is developing the proposed rule to establish requirements and timeframes for upgrading technologies and basic card‑security services (FNS discussion, via govinfo).
- Optional card‑security features: FNS has urged states to adopt more card protections—blocking easy‑to‑guess PINs, enabling card locks/freezes, sending transaction/PIN‑change alerts, and allowing blocks on out‑of‑state or online transactions (USDA OIG report; govinfo brief).
- Online purchasing protections: FNS updated specifications so online SNAP purchases can require card security code and expiration date—steps intended to ensure the buyer is the authorized recipient and reduce theft (govinfo modernization brief).
Practical steps you can take now to reduce risk
- Use a strong, unique PIN and change it regularly. Many states now block commonly used PINs; choose something only you would know (USDA OIG report).
- Ask your state EBT customer service about security features. If available in your state, enable:
- Transaction alerts and PIN‑change alerts
- Card freeze/lock when you’re not shopping
- Blocks on out‑of‑state or online transactions if you never use them
- Restrictions that prevent use at certain high‑risk merchant types
These features are encouraged by FNS, though availability varies by state (govinfo modernization brief).
- Inspect card readers before you swipe. Avoid using POS terminals that look damaged, loose, or have mismatched parts—classic signs of skimmers. Shield your PIN every time you enter it. FNS and OIG have emphasized consumer awareness as a front‑line defense (USDA OIG report).
- Be careful online. Shop only with authorized SNAP online retailers and follow the stronger security prompts (security code and expiration date) when requested (govinfo modernization brief).
- Monitor your balance frequently. Quickly spotting unfamiliar transactions is key to reporting issues promptly. FNS has asked retailers to remove certain balance‑inquiry features that were being abused and to add other safeguards; checking through official state EBT channels is safest (govinfo modernization brief).
What to do about the October COLA if you’re in Florida
- If you currently receive SNAP: Your benefit amount for October 2025 should automatically reflect the new FY 2026 standards. Watch for notices about recertification windows and any changes to deductions or counted income. The FNS COLA memo confirms states must implement the adjustments as of Oct. 1, 2025.
- If you’re applying or reapplying in fall 2025: The new income standards and deductions will apply to October benefits and beyond. That can help borderline households qualify or receive a higher amount. While the federal memo does not publish full income charts in the summary, it confirms that both income standards and deductions are updated for FY 2026 (FNS memo).
Enrollment basics and documentation tips
SNAP is a federal program run by state agencies. The federal SNAP page aggregates eligibility and data materials, and points applicants to state processes (FNS SNAP Data Tables page). In Florida, applications, interviews, and verification are handled by the state. While the precise documentation you’ll need depends on your situation, here’s the general flow to expect:
- Apply: Submit your SNAP application to your state agency (in Florida, applications are administered by the state). You can apply for yourself or for someone you care for.
- Interview: Complete an eligibility interview (usually by phone).
- Verify: Provide proof of identity, income, certain expenses, and household composition as requested by the state.
- Decision: You’ll receive a notice of eligibility and, if approved, an EBT card for benefits.
Because FY 2026 COLA updates take effect with October issuances, applying or recertifying around that time will subject your case to the updated standards and allotments (FNS COLA memo).
Who benefits most from the October boost
- Seniors and people with disabilities: Many live on fixed incomes; the annual SNAP COLA helps benefits keep pace with food costs. In FY 2023, most SNAP households included a child, an elderly adult, or a non‑elderly adult with a disability (FNS Characteristics report).
- Families with children: The maximum allotment figure ($994 for a family of four in Florida starting Oct. 1, 2025) is an important benchmark. Even if your household doesn’t receive the maximum, any increase helps cover staples and fresh foods (FNS COLA memo).
Fraud prevention: What FNS and law enforcement are tackling
FNS and DOJ have pursued cases against widespread theft and trafficking, and FNS shares transaction data and technical expertise to support investigations (govinfo brief; USDA OIG report). FNS has also coordinated with retailers and POS vendors to prepare for chip and contactless upgrades and has been issuing retailer technical notices and test scripts to smooth the transition (govinfo modernization brief).
Why we think these changes are significant for Tampa Bay
- The COLA raises the ceiling—and often the actual monthly benefit—for many local households at a time when groceries remain expensive. For a Florida family of four, the maximum allotment moving to $994 provides more headroom to account for income and deductions in the benefit calculation ([FNS COLA memo](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap