The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program began sending benefits for February to Utah residents on Monday, and those not collecting on Monday have two more dates to receive their payments.
Food stamps are sent to SNAP-participating households in Utah over three days each month: the 5th, 11th, and 15th. Benefits are distributed based on the first letter of a recipient’s last name.
A household of one can receive a maximum of $291, a household of five can receive a maximum of $1,155, and a household of eight can receive a maximum of $1,751. For each additional person, a household can receive a maximum of $219. Those amounts are based on the cost-of-living adjustments for 2023-24.
Recipients with last names beginning with A through G should have received SNAP benefits on Monday. Those with last names beginning with H through O will collect SNAP benefits on Sunday, and those with last names beginning with P through Z should receive SNAP benefits on Feb. 15.
The average payment per household member per month is $179. Approximately 5% of the Utah population, or 156,300 people, receives food stamps.
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Benefits are loaded on a prepaid electronic benefits transfer card each month, which, in Utah, is called the Utah Horizon Card. It works like a debit card and can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers.
The money is intended for purchasing groceries, snacks, fresh food, seeds, and plants. SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase nonfood household items, tobacco products, alcohol, pet food, or prepared foods.
