The Department of Human Services says the minimum monthly benefit increased from $24 to $25 and that the annual adjustment will not reduce any recipient's benefit. For a one-person household, the maximum monthly income is now $2,660 and the maximum benefit is $306; for a four-person household, those figures are $5,500 and $1,023.
Current recipients do not need a separate application just to receive the annual adjustment. People applying for or renewing benefits should provide documents showing their responsibility for shelter and utility costs, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or bill. The department says a case will not be rejected or closed solely because that proof is missing, but the calculation may leave out the related deduction and produce a lower benefit.
Applications and case updates are available through COMPASS, county assistance offices, and the state's customer service line. Federal work-requirement changes are a separate issue, and exemptions may apply, so residents should use the department's official guidance for their circumstances rather than assuming the new income table alone determines eligibility.