JusticeRights guide · United States

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SNAP (food stamps): who is eligible, and the income limits

FEDERALFederal law sets SNAP's income limits, deductions and work rules for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii have their own tables, and each state runs the program and may use a higher gross income limit.Checked by the Justice legal team against official sources · Last reviewed

Short answer

SNAP, often called food stamps, helps households with low income buy food. From October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, most households need gross monthly income at or below $1,729 for one person ($3,575 for four) and net income at or below $1,330 ($2,750 for four). If someone is 60 or older or disabled, only the net limit applies.

Screener · 2 household types

Is your income within the SNAP limits?

Federal SNAP limits for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (48 states and D.C.), from 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 and the state agency tables that reproduce them · checked Oct 21, 2026

Who is in your household?

Pick your household type, then enter your household size and monthly income.

    Rehearse the SNAP interviewThe full limits table

    Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.

    Key points

    Two income tests
    Most households must pass both: gross income at or below 130% of the poverty line ($1,729 a month for one person) and net income, after deductions, at or below 100% ($1,330).
    60+ or disabled
    Only the net income test applies, the asset limit is $4,750 instead of $3,000, medical costs over $35 a month are deducted, and the shelter deduction has no cap.
    Work rules
    An adult subject to the time limit gets SNAP for only 3 months in 3 years unless working or training 80 hours a month. The 2025 federal law widened who the time limit covers.
    Apply and appeal
    Apply with your state's SNAP agency: it must decide within 30 days, or within 7 days if your income and savings are very low. You can ask for a fair hearing within 90 days of a denial or cut.

    SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the federal program most people still call food stamps. Your state runs it, under its own name in some states, but the income limits, the deductions and the work rules are set by federal law and change every October 1. The figures on this page apply from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, in the 48 contiguous states and D.C.

    Below: the three tests (gross income, net income and assets), the full limits table by household size with the maximum monthly benefit, the deductions that turn gross income into net income, the rules for households with someone 60 or older or disabled, the work rules and the time limit for adults without children, who cannot get SNAP, how to apply and what to say at the interview, and how to appeal a denial. This page explains the law; it is not legal advice.

    Who can get SNAP: the three tests

    SNAP looks at your household: the people who live together and buy and prepare food together. Someone who lives with you but buys and cooks separately can be a separate household, except that spouses, and children under 22 living with a parent, are always in the same household. The state agency adds up the household's income and savings and compares them with three federal limits. 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.1(a), (b), 273.8, 273.9

    • Test 1: gross income at or below 130% of the poverty line. Gross income is the household's total income before taxes and before any deductions. For the 48 contiguous states and D.C. the limit is 130% of the federal poverty level: $1,729 a month for one person and $3,575 for four, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. A household with someone 60 or older or disabled skips this test.7 C.F.R. § 273.9(a)(1)
    • Test 2: net income at or below 100% of the poverty line. Net income is what is left after the deductions below: $1,330 a month for one person and $2,750 for four. Every household must pass this test, unless it is categorically eligible.7 C.F.R. § 273.9(a)(2)
    • Test 3: assets at or below $3,000, or $4,750. Countable assets, such as cash and money in the bank, must be $3,000 or less, or $4,750 or less if a member is 60 or older or disabled, for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Your home and its land, household goods, personal effects, pension plans and retirement accounts such as a 401(k) do not count.7 C.F.R. § 273.8
    Tip. Many states use a higher gross limit. A household that gets certain cash aid or services is categorically eligible: under 7 C.F.R. § 273.9(a) it does not have to meet the gross or net income standards, and under § 273.8 it skips the asset limit. Many states extend this to more households (broad-based categorical eligibility) with a higher gross limit and often no asset test: California's CalFresh uses $2,660 a month for one person (200% of poverty), and North Dakota sets 200% for its expanded categorically eligible households. See the state table. Your benefit is still figured from your net income.

    Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher poverty levels and their own SNAP tables (7 C.F.R. § 273.9(a)(1)(ii)-(iii)); the figures on this page are for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.

    SNAP income limits and maximum benefits by household size

    The federal table for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., as reproduced by Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services (RFT 250, effective October 1, 2026) and North Dakota's SNAP Manual Letter 26.7. These are the numbers the screener at the top uses. 7 C.F.R. § 273.9(a)(1), (a)(2)

    People in the householdGross monthly income limit (130%)Net monthly income limit (100%)Maximum monthly SNAP benefit
    1$1,729$1,330$306
    2$2,345$1,804$562
    3$2,960$2,277$808
    4$3,575$2,750$1,023
    5$4,191$3,224$1,217
    6$4,806$3,697$1,463
    7$5,421$4,170$1,616
    8$6,037$4,644$1,841
    Each additional person+$616+$474+$225

    How much you get. Your monthly benefit is the maximum benefit for your household size minus 30% of your net income, because SNAP expects a household to spend about 30% of its own net income on food. One- and two-person households that qualify get at least the minimum benefit, $24 a month. Benefits are loaded each month onto an EBT card that works like a debit card at authorized stores. North Dakota SNAP Manual Letter 26.7 · 7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)

    Tip. Worked example. Three people, $2,400 a month before taxes, $2,000 of it from work, rent and utilities $1,200. Gross $2,400 is under $2,960. Deductions: standard $217 and earned income 20% of $2,000 = $400, leaving $1,783. Half of $1,783 is $891.50, so the excess shelter cost is $308.50. Net income: $1,474.50, under $2,277. Benefit: $808 minus 30% of $1,474.50 ($442.35), about $365 a month.

    How net income is figured: the SNAP deductions

    Net income is gross income minus these deductions, applied in this order. The amounts are for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. 7 C.F.R. § 273.9(d) · Michigan DHHS RFT 255

    1. Standard deduction. Every household gets it: $217 a month for 1 to 3 people, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, and $308 for 6 or more.
    2. Earned income deduction: 20%. 20% of the household's gross earnings from work is taken off, to allow for taxes and work costs.
    3. Dependent care. What you pay for the care of a child or an incapacitated adult so a member can work, look for work, or attend training or school.
    4. Medical costs over $35 a month, for members 60 or older or disabled. Medical costs of a member who is 60 or older or disabled, above $35 a month: doctor, dental and hospital bills, prescriptions, health insurance and Medicare premiums, glasses, hearing aids, and the cost of getting to treatment.
    5. Child support you pay. Legally owed child support paid for someone outside the household is left out of your income, or deducted, depending on the state.
    6. Excess shelter costs: above 50% of what is left, up to $769. Add rent or mortgage, property taxes, insurance on the home and utilities. Many states count utilities as a fixed amount (a standard utility allowance) instead of your actual bills. The part above 50% of your income after the other deductions is deducted, up to $769 a month. There is no cap if a member is 60 or older or disabled. Since the 2025 federal law, internet service fees do not count as a shelter cost.
    Tip. Homeless? A state may give a standard homeless shelter deduction instead of the shelter cost calculation; North Dakota's is $205.66 a month for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Ask your state agency.

    If someone in the household is 60 or older or disabled

    SNAP treats a household differently when any member is 60 or older, or gets disability benefits such as SSI or Social Security disability, certain VA disability benefits, or a government disability retirement for a permanent disability. 7 C.F.R. § 271.2

    RuleMost householdsA member 60 or older or disabled
    Gross income test (130%)Yes: $1,729 for one person, $3,575 for four. § 273.9(a)(1)No gross test. § 273.9(a)
    Net income test (100%)Yes: $1,330 for one person, $2,750 for four. § 273.9(a)(2)Yes, the same limits. § 273.9(a)(2)
    Asset limit$3,000. ND Manual Letter 26.7$4,750. ND Manual Letter 26.7
    Standard deduction$217 to $308 by household size.The same.
    Earned income deduction20%.20%.
    Medical costsNot deductible.Costs over $35 a month are deducted. § 273.9(d)(3)
    Excess shelter deductionAbove 50% of income, capped at $769.Above 50% of income, no cap. § 273.9(d)(6)(ii)
    How long approval lastsUp to 12 months.Up to 24 months if all adults are 60 or older or disabled. § 273.10(f)
    General work rulesApply from age 16 to 59.Do not apply at 60 or older. § 273.7(b)
    Tip. In Texas, households in which every member is 60 or older or has a disability can use the Texas Simplified Application Project, which makes applying easier and gives three years of benefits at a time instead of six months. Texas Health and Human Services: SNAP food benefits

    SNAP work requirements and the 3-month time limit

    • The general work rules. Unless exempt, a member must register for work, take part in an employment and training program if the state assigns one, accept a suitable job offer, and not quit a job of 30 or more hours a week, or cut hours below 30 a week, without good cause. Exempt: anyone younger than 16 or 60 or older, people physically or mentally unfit for work, a parent or household member caring for a child under 6 or an incapacitated person, people getting unemployment benefits, people in a drug or alcohol treatment program, people already working 30 hours a week, and students enrolled at least half-time.7 C.F.R. § 273.7(a), (b)
    • The time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents. An adult who is subject to the time limit can get SNAP for only 3 countable months in a 3-year period, unless he or she works, or takes part in a work program, 20 hours a week averaged monthly (80 hours a month), or does workfare.7 C.F.R. § 273.24(a)(1), (b)
    • Who is exempt from the time limit since the 2025 law. The 2025 federal law (Public Law 119-21, § 10102) rewrote the exemptions in 7 U.S.C. § 2015(o)(3). In the statute's words, the time limit does not apply to anyone "under 18, or over 65, years of age"; anyone medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment; a parent or household member responsible for a dependent child under 14; anyone exempt from the general work rules; a pregnant woman; and an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian as federal law defines them. Areas with high unemployment can still be waived.Pub. L. 119-21, § 10102 · 7 U.S.C. § 2015(o)
    • How the states apply it: the age range differs. California's agency applies the time limit, since June 1, 2026, to adults between the ages of 18 and 64 with no household member under 14, and Texas's agency to most adults ages 18 to 64 with no children under 14 in the home. New York's state page says the new rules apply to adults aged 18-54, or up to 64 in some areas. California lists the people newly covered: adults aged 55-64, parents whose youngest child is 14 or older, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and people who were in foster care on their 18th birthday. Ask your state agency which rule it applies to you.CDSS: CalFresh work and community engagement requirements · Texas HHS: SNAP food benefits · New York State: Apply for SNAP
    Watch out. The rules changed recently. The federal regulation on the time limit (7 C.F.R. § 273.24) has not yet been rewritten to match the 2025 law, and states are putting the new rules in place on their own schedules. Ask your caseworker which rule applies to you, and report a drop below 20 hours a week of work.

    Who cannot get SNAP

    • Most college students. A student enrolled at least half-time in college, or in a trade school that requires a high school diploma, is not eligible unless an exemption applies: age 17 or younger or 50 or older, unfit for work, getting TANF, working at least 20 hours a week for pay, in work study or on-the-job training, caring for a household member under 6 (or under 12 when child care is not available), or a single parent in school full time with a child under 12. 7 C.F.R. § 273.5
    • Many non-citizens. Since the 2025 law, a person must be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a Cuban or Haitian entrant, or someone living here under a Compact of Free Association; other conditions, such as a waiting period, may still apply. Eligibility is decided person by person: a citizen child can get SNAP even if a parent cannot, and the parent's income still counts. Pub. L. 119-21, § 10108 · 7 U.S.C. § 2015(f)
    • Households with a striker, unless the household was eligible the day before the strike. 7 C.F.R. § 273.1(e)
    • People with a drug felony conviction, unless the state where they live has passed a law opting out of or limiting the federal ban; ask your state agency. 7 C.F.R. § 273.11(m)
    • People fleeing a felony charge or violating probation or parole. 7 C.F.R. § 273.11(n)
    • Adults who used up the time limit and do not meet the work rule or an exemption (see the work rules above).

    Quick guide

    Which SNAP rule applies to you?

    1. Which describes you best?

    Answer one or two questions to see which rule applies.

    Rehearse the SNAP interview

    It points to the part of this page that fits, in the page's own words. Nothing you choose is saved or sent. Not legal advice.

    How to apply for SNAP: the interview, 30 days, or 7 days if urgent

    1. Apply with your state's SNAP agency, the same day if you want. You can file the day you contact the office. An application counts as filed once it has your name and address and is signed, so file first and finish the rest later: your first month's benefits are counted from the date you apply.
    2. Have the interview. The agency interviews you, in person or by phone if your state allows it; you can ask for a face-to-face interview. It asks who lives and eats with you, your income, your rent and bills, and your child care and medical costs.
    3. Send the papers asked for. The agency must give you at least 10 days to send proof, such as pay stubs, a lease and utility bills. Ask for help if you cannot get a document.
    4. Get a decision within 30 days, or 7 days if urgent. The agency must decide and let eligible households start getting benefits no later than 30 calendar days after you file. Expedited benefits come within 7 days if your monthly gross income is under $150 and your cash and bank money are $100 or less, if your income and cash together are less than your rent or mortgage and utilities, or if you are a destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker.
    5. Report changes and renew. Approval lasts for a set period, usually up to 12 months (up to 24 months if all adults are 60 or older or disabled). Report the changes your state asks for, such as income above the gross limit, and renew before the period ends.

    To find your state's SNAP office, start at usa.gov, which says to contact your state or local SNAP office and that, depending on the state, you can apply online, in person, by mail or by fax. More benefits are in the Government benefits hub. 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.2(c), (f), (g), (i), 273.10(f)

    If you lost your job, also see unemployment benefits by state.

    SNAP in California, Texas and New York: limits and where to apply

    Each state runs SNAP and may set a higher gross income limit. This table compares the federal rule with what California, Texas and New York publish, read from each state agency's own page on October 21, 2026. Florida is left out: its SNAP agency publishes its rules on a site outside the .gov domain, which this guide does not cite. In Florida and other states, the federal limits above are the starting point; your state agency can tell you whether it uses a higher one.

    RuleFederal rule (48 states and D.C.)California (CalFresh)TexasNew York
    Gross income limit, 1 person$1,729 (130%). § 273.9(a)(1)$2,660. CDSS, October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027Texas publishes its own chart, which can be higher than 130% for many households. When we checked on October 21, 2026, it still showed the previous year, so use the chart on the Texas HHS page. Texas HHS$1,729 with no earned income; $1,995 with earnings; $2,660 with a member 60 or older or disabled, or with dependent care costs. New York State
    Gross income limit, 4 people$3,575 (130%).$5,500.See the Texas HHS chart.$3,575; $4,125 with earnings; $5,500 with a member 60 or older or disabled, or dependent care.
    Net income limit, 1 person$1,330 (100%). § 273.9(a)(2)$1,330.Not on the state page.Not on the state page.
    Maximum benefit, 1 person$306.$306.$306, the federal maximum for the 48 states and D.C. ND Manual Letter 26.7$306.
    Savings (asset) test$3,000; $4,750 with a member 60 or older or disabled; none for categorically eligible households. § 273.8Not stated on the CDSS income insert; ask your county.Not stated on the state page.Most households applying no longer have to pass a savings or resource test.
    Time limit for adults without childrenExempt if "under 18, or over 65". 7 U.S.C. § 2015(o)Ages 18 to 64, since June 1, 2026; waived in some counties.Most adults ages 18 to 64 with no children under 14.Aged 18-54, or up to 64 in some areas.
    Benefit cardEBT card.EBT card.Lone Star Card.Electronic benefits used like cash for food.
    How to applyYour state or local SNAP office. usa.govBenefitsCal.com, or call 1-877-847-3663.YourTexasBenefits.com; language help at 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905.mybenefits.ny.gov, or a paper application to your local department of social services; questions 1-800-342-3009.
    Watch out. Check the date on a state chart. States update their SNAP charts each October at different speeds. When we checked on October 21, 2026, Texas's page still listed the figures in force until September 30, 2026; the federal figures on this page are the ones in force from October 1, 2026.

    At the SNAP interview: what to say

    “You'll have to come back once you have all your papers.”

    You can say: “I'd like to file today with my name, address and signature, so my benefits count from today. I'll send the rest within the time you give me.”

    “Your roommate's income counts too.”

    You can say: “We live together but buy and cook our food separately. Please count us as separate households.”

    “You earn too much.”

    You can say: “Please count the deductions: the standard deduction, 20% of my earnings, my child care, and my rent and utilities above half my income. Which limit am I over, and by how much?”

    “There's nothing in your file about medical costs.”

    If a member is 60 or older or disabled, you can say: “My mother is 65 and lives with us. Her medical costs over $35 a month should be deducted, and our shelter deduction has no cap.”

    “It will take a few weeks.”

    You can say: “We have almost no income or money left this month. Please screen us for expedited benefits within 7 days.”

    If SNAP is denied, cut or stopped: the fair hearing

    1. Read the notice. A denial notice must explain the basis for the denial and your right to a fair hearing. Before cutting or stopping benefits, the agency must give you advance notice of at least 10 days.
    2. Ask for a fair hearing within 90 days. You can appeal any action or loss of benefits within the prior 90 days. The request can be oral or written: one call or letter saying you want to appeal is enough.
    3. Keep your benefits while you appeal. If you ask for the hearing within the period in the notice of adverse action, your benefits continue at the old level until the decision, unless you waive that.
    4. Prepare for the hearing. Bring pay stubs, your lease and bills, and the notice. The state must decide within 60 days of your request.

    If your SSI or Social Security disability was denied, that is a separate appeal: see Social Security disability appeals. 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.13(a), 273.15(c), (g), (h), (k)

    Getting help

    Legal aid offices handle SNAP denials and fair hearings for free. If you lost a job or your pay is being garnished, the pages below cover those too.

    Find a lawyer or free legal aidLegal aid and state bar referral services, with first-consultation prices.Unemployment benefitsHow to apply, and how to appeal a denial.Social Security disability appealsThe four levels of appeal, and the 60-day deadline.Wage garnishmentHow much can be taken from your paycheck.

    Common questions

    What is the income limit for food stamps?

    From October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, gross monthly income at or below $1,729 for one person, $2,345 for two, $2,960 for three and $3,575 for four, and net income at or below $1,330, $1,804, $2,277 and $2,750. See the full table.

    How much food stamps will I get?

    The maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income: the maximum is $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three and $1,023 for four. One- and two-person households that qualify get at least $24.

    Do I qualify for SNAP if I work?

    You can: 20% of your earnings is deducted before the net income test. What counts is whether your income is under the limits, not whether you work.

    Can I get food stamps if I have money in the bank?

    Yes, if your countable assets are $3,000 or less, or $4,750 or less with a member 60 or older or disabled. Your home, household goods and retirement accounts do not count, and in states with broad-based categorical eligibility there may be no asset test.

    Can college students get food stamps?

    Only with an exemption if enrolled at least half-time: for example, working 20 hours a week for pay, being in work study, or caring for a child under 6. See who cannot get SNAP.

    What is the SNAP work requirement for adults without children?

    An adult subject to the time limit gets SNAP for only 3 months in 3 years unless working or in a work program 80 hours a month. Since the 2025 law, the exemptions are narrower; see the work rules.

    How long does it take to get SNAP?

    No more than 30 days after you file, or 7 days if your household qualifies for expedited benefits.

    What can I do if SNAP is denied?

    Ask for a fair hearing within 90 days, by phone or in writing. If you ask within the notice period, your benefits continue during the appeal. Legal aid can help: see find legal help.

    Official sources

    1. North Dakota HHS, SNAP Manual Letter 26.7: the federal gross (130%) and net (100%) income standards, maximum allotments, $24 minimum, $769 shelter cap and $3,000 / $4,750 resource limits, October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 nd.gov
    2. Michigan DHHS, Reference Tables RFT 250: SNAP income limits effective October 1, 2026 (130%, 100% and 200% of poverty by group size) michigan.gov
    3. Michigan DHHS, Reference Tables RFT 255: SNAP standard deductions ($217, $229, $268, $308) and shelter maximum ($769), effective October 1, 2026 michigan.gov
    4. 7 C.F.R. § 273.9: income and deductions (§ 273.9(a), 273.9(a)(1) gross 130%, 273.9(a)(2) net 100%; § 273.9(d): 20% earned income, medical over $35, dependent care, child support, excess shelter § 273.9(d)(6)(ii)) ecfr.gov
    5. 7 C.F.R. § 273.8: resource limits and what does not count ecfr.gov
    6. 7 C.F.R. § 271.2: definition of an elderly or disabled member (60 years of age or older; SSI, Social Security disability, VA ratings) ecfr.gov
    7. 7 C.F.R. § 273.7: work requirements and exemptions (§ 273.7(a), (b)) ecfr.gov
    8. 7 C.F.R. § 273.24: time limit for able-bodied adults (§ 273.24(a)(1) 80 hours a month; § 273.24(b) 3 countable months in 3 years) ecfr.gov
    9. Public Law 119-21 (July 4, 2025): § 10102 work requirement exemptions in 7 U.S.C. § 2015(o); § 10104 internet fees; § 10108 non-citizen eligibility in 7 U.S.C. § 2015(f) govinfo.gov
    10. 7 C.F.R. § 273.5: students in higher education and the exemptions (§ 273.5(b)) ecfr.gov
    11. 7 C.F.R. § 273.1: who is in the household (§ 273.1(a), (b): spouses and children under 22 living with a parent are always together); strikers (§ 273.1(e)) ecfr.gov
    12. 7 C.F.R. § 273.11: drug felony (§ 273.11(m)) and fleeing felon (§ 273.11(n)) rules ecfr.gov
    13. 7 C.F.R. § 273.2: application processing (same-day filing, 10 days for proof, 30 days, expedited service in 7 days) ecfr.gov
    14. 7 C.F.R. § 273.10: benefit calculation and minimum benefit (§ 273.10(e)); certification periods of 12 or 24 months (§ 273.10(f)) ecfr.gov
    15. 7 C.F.R. § 273.15: fair hearings (request within 90 days; decision within 60 days; benefits continue) ecfr.gov
    16. 7 C.F.R. § 273.13: notice of adverse action (at least 10 days) ecfr.gov
    17. USAGov: Food assistance (SNAP), how to apply through your state or local SNAP office usa.gov
    18. California Department of Social Services: CalFresh income and eligibility limits, October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027 (gross $2,660, net $1,330 for one person; BenefitsCal.com; 1-877-847-3663) cdss.ca.gov
    19. California Department of Social Services: CalFresh, California's name for SNAP (benefits on an EBT card) cdss.ca.gov
    20. California Department of Social Services: CalFresh work and community engagement requirements (ages 18 to 64 since June 1, 2026; groups newly covered; county waivers) cdss.ca.gov
    21. Texas Health and Human Services: SNAP food benefits (Lone Star Card, income chart, work rules for ages 18 to 64, Texas Simplified Application Project) hhs.texas.gov
    22. New York State: Apply or recertify for SNAP (gross income charts based on SNAP Standards effective October 1, 2026; no resource test for most households; expedited SNAP within seven days) ny.gov
    How toHow to appeal a Social Security disability denialHow toUnemployment benefits: how to apply, and how to appeal a denialYour rightsWage garnishment: how much can be taken from your paycheckGet helpFind a lawyer or free legal aid

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