Can I Get Food Stamps?

Find out if you are eligible for SNAP Benefits

To be approved for Food Stamps (SNAP Benefits) you have to meet the program’s income and resource guidelines.  The size of a family’s SNAP benefit is based on its income and certain expenses.  Below is a summary of SNAP eligibility and benefit calculation rules.

Eligibility Rules

Under rules set by the federal government (USDA), to be eligible for SNAP benefits a household’s income and resources must meet three tests:

  1. Its gross monthly income generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. The poverty level is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families.
  2. Its net income, or income after deductions are applied, must be at or below the poverty line.
  3. Its assets must fall below certain limits: households without an elderly or disabled member must have assets of $2,250 or less, and households with an elderly or disabled member must have assets of $3,250 or less.

What is counted as Income?
The program counts cash income from all sources, including earned income (before payroll taxes are deducted) and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support.

What is counted as Assets?
The program counts as assets resources that could be available to the household to purchase food, such as amounts in bank accounts. Items that are not accessible, such as the household’s home, personal property, and retirement savings, do not count. Most automobiles do not count

Note: States have the option to relax the asset limits, and many have done so.

Popular Questions Around Food Stamps Eligibility

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