2026 PAN: $55.9 Million in Extra Funds Arrive, and These Are the Income Limits in Effect Through September 30

If your family gets the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) —or you think you might qualify— now is a good time to go over the numbers. For the federal fiscal year running October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF) is keeping updated income tables, and Puerto Rico has already begun receiving $55.9 million in additional federal funds for the program. That money comes from the annual inflation adjustment included in the federal law that reopened the government, and agencies projected it would arrive in the first quarter of 2026 ¹. It is not a new "bono" or a surprise check: it is money that sustains the monthly benefit for hundreds of thousands of families, and it is worth understanding well.

The PAN, in context

The PAN is Puerto Rico's version of SNAP —food stamps in the rest of the United States— but it works as a fixed-cap block grant rather than an open-ended program. That is why, when the cost of living or the minimum wage goes up, ADSEF has to readjust deductions and income levels so working families don't lose the benefit all at once. Today the program serves about 721,000 families on the island. Among them are roughly 265,000 minors under 18 and about 418,000 people age 60 or older, and more than 224,000 beneficiaries are people who work and still qualify ².

The numbers that matter

For the current period, ADSEF raised the fixed deduction from $198 to $279 a month and adjusted the maximum net income threshold from $619 to $633, following the federal poverty indicator applicable to Puerto Rico ². The 20% deduction on earned work income stays in place, an important cushion for anyone earning the $10.50-an-hour minimum wage.

As a reference for the fiscal year 2026 tables, here are the approximate caps and maximum benefits by household size ³:

• 1 person: gross income up to $1,330, net up to $1,025, benefit up to $130.
• 3 people: gross income up to $2,270, net up to $1,745, benefit up to $345.
• 4 people: gross income up to $2,735, net up to $2,105, benefit up to $440.
• For each additional person, add about $470 to gross and $360 to net ³.

In practice, the average benefit for a three-person household runs around $315 a month ¹.

What it means for you

If your income went up —a raise, more hours, or the minimum-wage adjustment— don't assume you lost the PAN. First, ADSEF applies deductions before looking at your net income, so the number that counts is almost always lower than your gross paycheck. Second, if you truly exceed the threshold, there is a phased transition: you keep the full benefit for 12 months, then receive 66% for six months, and finally 33% for another six, before leaving the program ². That gives you up to two years to stabilize instead of an abrupt cutoff. And if you have never applied because "I surely won't qualify," keep in mind the caps are higher than many people think: a family of four can have up to $2,735 in gross monthly income and still be eligible ³.

How to do it / Checklist

1. Gather your documents: ID, Social Security number for each member, proof of income from the last 30 days, and receipts for rent or mortgage, water (AAA), power (LUMA), and internet.
2. Calculate your net income: subtract 20% of your work income, the fixed deduction, childcare costs, medical expenses over $35 a month (for elderly or disabled members), and any child support you pay ³.
3. Log in to ADSEF Digital (serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov) to apply, recertify, or check your eligibility without going in person.
4. Report changes on time: you now have 30 days to report changes in your socioeconomic situation; meeting that deadline avoids penalties or overpayments ².
5. Recertify when it's due: the cycle is every 6 or 12 months depending on your profile; note the date so you don't lose the benefit ³.
6. Keep your case number and confirm your address and phone are correct so you receive notices.

What's next

2026 brings movement on two fronts. In Washington, the federal House Appropriations Committee approved a proposal on May 2 that would raise PAN allocations for Puerto Rico by $77.8 million for fiscal year 2027, which begins October 1 ⁴. And the bigger debate is still alive: converting the PAN into SNAP, the program used by the states. That change would not be automatic or immediate, but for a three-person family it would mean the difference between about $315 and roughly $535 a month ¹. While Congress decides, the practical move is to make sure your case is up to date and that ADSEF has your income and information correct.