Food stamps: October SNAP payments worth up to $1,751 for Maine residents end in two days

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will conclude payments for October for Maine residents on Saturday.

The Pine Tree State sends out payments beginning on the 10th of the month and continues until the 14th. SNAP beneficiaries receive food stamps based on the last digit of their birth date.

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The maximum payment is $291 for a household of one, $1,155 for a household of five, and $1,751 for a household of eight. For each household member above eight, $219 is added.

Those with birth dates ending in 2 or 3 will collect payments on Thursday. Recipients with birth dates ending in 4 or 7 will get payments on Friday, and those with birth dates ending in 5 or 6 will collect payments on Saturday.

Those with birth dates ending in 0 or 9 should have received their SNAP payments on Tuesday, and recipients with birth dates ending in 1 or 8 should have collected SNAP benefits on Wednesday.

If a household becomes eligible for SNAP once their birth date section has passed, or past Oct. 14, they will still receive food stamps for October and will not need to wait until November.

Approximately 12% of Maine’s population, or 161,800 people, receive food stamps in the state. The average payment per household member per month is $168.

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SNAP benefits are reloaded each month onto an electronic benefits transfer card. In Maine, the card is referred to as the Maine Pine Tree card. Payments can be used at participating grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers.

Produce, groceries, fresh fruit, seeds, and plants can be purchased using SNAP, but items like prepared foods, tobacco products, household items, and pet food cannot be purchased using food stamps.