{
  "id": "snap",
  "version": "6b0572bab1ec",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "SNAP Benefits Calculator",
  "question": "How much food stamps will I get?",
  "summary": "Estimates your monthly SNAP (food stamps) benefit from household size, income and expenses, with the federal rules and amounts for October 2026 to September 2027.",
  "category": "finance",
  "subcategory": "tax-and-pay",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Net income = gross − 20% of earnings − standard deduction − medical over $35 (60+ or disabled) − dependent care − child support − excess shelter (shelter costs over half of the rest, capped unless 60+ or disabled); benefit = maximum allotment − 30% of net income rounded up to the dollar, if the gross (130% FPL) and net (100% FPL) tests pass.",
  "assumptions": [
    "Federal amounts for October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027 (FY 2027).",
    "Broad-based categorical eligibility and other state options are not applied; in many states they raise the gross limit or drop the asset test.",
    "Resources are within the limit ($3,000, or $4,750 with a member 60+ or disabled), and every member is eligible (no student, work-rule or immigration limits).",
    "A full month of benefits (no first-month proration)."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "state": {
        "title": "State",
        "description": "The state you live in. Alaska and Hawaii have higher amounts.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "AL",
          "AK",
          "AZ",
          "AR",
          "CA",
          "CO",
          "CT",
          "DE",
          "DC",
          "FL",
          "GA",
          "HI",
          "ID",
          "IL",
          "IN",
          "IA",
          "KS",
          "KY",
          "LA",
          "ME",
          "MD",
          "MA",
          "MI",
          "MN",
          "MS",
          "MO",
          "MT",
          "NE",
          "NV",
          "NH",
          "NJ",
          "NM",
          "NY",
          "NC",
          "ND",
          "OH",
          "OK",
          "OR",
          "PA",
          "RI",
          "SC",
          "SD",
          "TN",
          "TX",
          "UT",
          "VT",
          "VA",
          "WA",
          "WV",
          "WI",
          "WY"
        ]
      },
      "area": {
        "title": "Alaska area",
        "description": "Urban, rural 1 or rural 2, as the state of Alaska classifies your community.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "urban",
          "rural1",
          "rural2"
        ]
      },
      "size": {
        "title": "People in the household",
        "description": "People who live together and buy and make food together.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 17
      },
      "elderly": {
        "title": "Someone is 60+ or disabled",
        "description": "On when a household member is 60 or older or gets disability benefits.",
        "type": "boolean"
      },
      "earned": {
        "title": "Earned income a month",
        "description": "Gross pay from work before taxes, for the whole household.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "unearned": {
        "title": "Other income a month",
        "description": "Social Security, SSI, unemployment, child support received, and other income that is not from work.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "rent": {
        "title": "Rent or mortgage a month",
        "description": "Rent or mortgage payments, plus property taxes and home insurance.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "util": {
        "title": "Utilities a month",
        "description": "Heating, cooling, electricity, water, gas, trash and one phone; or your state’s standard utility allowance. Not internet.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "care": {
        "title": "Dependent care a month",
        "description": "Child or adult care you pay so a member can work, look for work or study.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "support": {
        "title": "Child support paid a month",
        "description": "Legally owed child support paid to someone outside the household.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      },
      "medical": {
        "title": "Medical costs a month",
        "description": "Out-of-pocket medical costs of the members who are 60 or older or disabled.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 1000000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "benefit": {
      "label": "Estimated SNAP benefit a month",
      "description": "The maximum allotment for your household size less 30% of net income, if you pass the income tests.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "result": {
      "label": "Income tests",
      "description": "Whether the household passes the gross and net income tests.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "maximum": {
      "label": "Maximum allotment",
      "description": "The most a household of this size can get in a month.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "gross": {
      "label": "Gross income",
      "description": "Earned plus other income, per month.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "grossLimit": {
      "label": "Gross income limit (130% FPL)",
      "description": "Households without a member 60 or older or disabled must be at or under this limit.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "net": {
      "label": "Net income",
      "description": "Gross income less all SNAP deductions.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "netLimit": {
      "label": "Net income limit (100% FPL)",
      "description": "Every household must be at or under this.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "shelter": {
      "label": "Excess shelter deduction",
      "description": "Housing and utility costs above half of income after the other deductions, capped unless a member is 60+ or disabled.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "apply": {
      "label": "Where to apply",
      "description": "The program name in your state.",
      "format": "text"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "state": "TX",
      "area": "urban",
      "size": 3,
      "elderly": false,
      "earned": 1500,
      "unearned": 0,
      "rent": 900,
      "util": 0,
      "care": 0,
      "support": 0,
      "medical": 0
    },
    "outputs": {
      "benefit": 635,
      "result": "Passes the gross and net income tests",
      "maximum": 808,
      "gross": 1500,
      "grossLimit": 2960,
      "net": 574.5,
      "netLimit": 2277,
      "shelter": 408.5,
      "apply": "Apply for SNAP in Texas with your state SNAP agency; state options can change the result."
    },
    "text": "For 3 people in Texas with $1,500.00 of earnings a month, SNAP is about $635 a month."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "TX",
        "size": 4,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 1500,
        "unearned": 550,
        "rent": 700,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 362,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "gross": 2050,
        "net": 1038.5,
        "benefit": 711
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS, SNAP Eligibility worked example (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility) with the FY 2027 4-person standard deduction of $229 (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola): $2,050 − $300 − $229 − $362 = $1,159; excess shelter $700 − $579.50 = $120.50; net $1,038.50; $1,023 − $312 = $711"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "OH",
        "size": 1,
        "elderly": true,
        "earned": 0,
        "unearned": 1000,
        "rent": 800,
        "util": 300,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0,
        "medical": 100
      },
      "expect": {
        "net": 0,
        "benefit": 306
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 standards (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola): $1,000 − $217 − ($100 − $35) = $718; uncapped shelter $1,100 − $359 = $741 leaves net $0; maximum $306 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "CA",
        "size": 2,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 2500,
        "unearned": 0,
        "rent": 900,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "gross": 2500,
        "grossLimit": 2345,
        "benefit": 0
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 gross income limit for 2 people, $2,345 (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola): $2,500 is over it"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "NY",
        "size": 2,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 0,
        "unearned": 2015,
        "rent": 0,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "net": 1798,
        "benefit": 25
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 standards: net $2,015 − $217 = $1,798; $562 − $540 = $22, raised to the $25 minimum for 1 and 2 person households (7 CFR 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C))"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "HI",
        "size": 3,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 2000,
        "unearned": 0,
        "rent": 1500,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "net": 441,
        "benefit": 1174
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 Hawaii standards: $2,000 − $400 − $306 = $1,294; shelter $1,500 − $647 = $853; net $441; $1,307 − $133 = $1,174 (hand calculation in content.mdx)"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP FY 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (allotments, deductions, income limits): https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola",
    "USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Eligibility (deductions and worked example): https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility",
    "Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 273.10(e) (net income and benefit levels): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-273.10",
    "USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP State Directory of Resources: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory"
  ],
  "related": [
    "snap-eligibility",
    "federal-poverty-level",
    "ssi"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}