The table below shows the maximum monthly assistance allotment for households of different sizes. According to the USDA, a household should be able to buy a month's worth of healthy food with this amount of money.

**Food Stamp Program Maximum Monthly Allotments**
(Effective 10/09 through 9/10)
People in Household	Maximum Monthly Allotment
1	$200
2	$367
3	$526
4	$668
5	$793
6	$952
7	$1,052
8	$1,202
Each additional person	+$150

These amounts are the most monthly assistance you can get. The amount of assistance you will actually get depends on your income and expenses. You are expected to spend about 30% of your household income on food. In 2009, the average monthly SNAP benefit was about $117 per person in New Mexico.

How is my benefit amount calculated?

The amount of assistance you will actually get depends on your household's net monthly income. (See How is net income calculated?)

You will get the allotment shown in the table above for your household size, minus 30% of your household's net monthly income.

For example, a household of four with a net monthly income of $900 would get a food stamp allotment of $398:

Maximum allotment for household size of 4	$ 668
Subtract 30% of net monthly income (.3 x 900)	- 270
Household food stamp benefit	$ 398

Are there any other benefits?

If you get SNAP, you can sign up for nutrition classes to help you stretch your assistance dollars and make healthy food choices. You will learn new recipes and take part in fun, group activities. There are classes for adults, and classes for children and teens.

The classes are free and are taught at sites throughout New Mexico. They are part of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP). To find a class in your area, call 1-877-993-3637 (toll-free) or you may visit the New Mexico State University website and click on your county for class locations in your area.

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