{
  "id": "snap-eligibility",
  "version": "9f5d363e7238",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "SNAP Eligibility Calculator",
  "question": "What is my food stamp eligibility?",
  "summary": "Checks food stamp (SNAP) eligibility with the federal gross income, net income and resource tests for October 2026 to September 2027, and estimates the monthly benefit.",
  "category": "finance",
  "subcategory": "tax-and-pay",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-eligibility-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-eligibility-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Eligible when net income ≤ 100% FPL limit, gross income ≤ 130% FPL limit (unless a member is 60+ or disabled), and resources ≤ $3,000 ($4,750 with a member 60+ or disabled); net income and benefit as on the SNAP benefits page.",
  "assumptions": [
    "Federal rules for October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027 (FY 2027).",
    "Broad-based categorical eligibility is not applied; most states use it to raise the gross limit or drop the resource test.",
    "Every member is eligible: student, work requirement and non-citizen rules are not applied."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$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 limits.",
        "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": 10000000
      },
      "unearned": {
        "title": "Other income a month",
        "description": "Social Security, unemployment, child support received and other income.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      },
      "assets": {
        "title": "Countable resources",
        "description": "Cash and money in bank accounts. Your home and most retirement savings do not count.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      },
      "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": 10000000
      },
      "util": {
        "title": "Utilities a month",
        "description": "Heating, cooling, electricity, water, gas, trash and one phone; or your state’s standard utility allowance.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      },
      "care": {
        "title": "Dependent care a month",
        "description": "Child or adult care you pay so a member can work or study.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      },
      "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": 10000000
      },
      "medical": {
        "title": "Medical costs a month",
        "description": "Out-of-pocket medical costs of members 60 or older or disabled.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "verdict": {
      "label": "Federal SNAP eligibility",
      "description": "Whether the household passes every federal test.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "grossTest": {
      "label": "Gross income test",
      "description": "Gross income against 130% of the poverty level.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "netTest": {
      "label": "Net income test",
      "description": "Income after deductions against 100% of the poverty level.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "assetTest": {
      "label": "Resource test",
      "description": "Countable resources against the federal limit.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "benefit": {
      "label": "Estimated benefit a month",
      "description": "The maximum allotment less 30% of net income, when every test passes.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "gross": {
      "label": "Gross income",
      "description": "Earned plus other income, per month.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "grossLimit": {
      "label": "Gross income limit",
      "description": "130% of the poverty level for the household size.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "net": {
      "label": "Net income",
      "description": "Gross income less all SNAP deductions.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "netLimit": {
      "label": "Net income limit",
      "description": "100% of the poverty level for the household size.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "assetLimit": {
      "label": "Resource limit",
      "description": "$4,750 with a member 60+ or disabled, else $3,000.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "apply": {
      "label": "Where to apply",
      "description": "The program name in your state.",
      "format": "text"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "state": "FL",
      "area": "urban",
      "size": 2,
      "elderly": false,
      "earned": 2000,
      "unearned": 0,
      "assets": 1000,
      "rent": 1000,
      "util": 0,
      "care": 0,
      "support": 0,
      "medical": 0
    },
    "outputs": {
      "verdict": "Likely eligible",
      "grossTest": "Pass",
      "netTest": "Pass",
      "assetTest": "Pass",
      "benefit": 239,
      "gross": 2000,
      "grossLimit": 2345,
      "net": 1074.5,
      "netLimit": 1804,
      "assetLimit": 3000,
      "apply": "Apply for SNAP (Food Assistance Program in Florida) with your state SNAP agency; it decides eligibility."
    },
    "text": "For 2 people in Florida with $2,000.00 of earnings a month: Likely eligible."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "FL",
        "size": 4,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 1500,
        "unearned": 550,
        "assets": 500,
        "rent": 700,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 362,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "verdict": "Likely eligible",
        "gross": 2050,
        "grossLimit": 3575,
        "net": 1038.5,
        "netLimit": 2750,
        "benefit": 711
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS, SNAP Eligibility worked example (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility) with the FY 2027 standard deduction for 4 people, $229 (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola)"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "FL",
        "size": 1,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 1800,
        "unearned": 0,
        "assets": 0,
        "rent": 0,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "verdict": "Not eligible under the federal income tests",
        "grossLimit": 1729,
        "benefit": 0
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 gross income limit for 1 person, $1,729 (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola): $1,800 is over it"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "PA",
        "size": 1,
        "elderly": true,
        "earned": 0,
        "unearned": 1800,
        "assets": 4000,
        "rent": 1000,
        "util": 200,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0,
        "medical": 35
      },
      "expect": {
        "verdict": "Likely eligible",
        "grossTest": "Does not apply (a member is 60+ or disabled)",
        "net": 1174.5,
        "benefit": 25
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 standards and elderly rules (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility): $1,800 − $217 = $1,583; shelter $1,200 − $791.50 = $408.50 uncapped; net $1,174.50 ≤ $1,330; 30% rounded up $353; $306 − $353 is below 0, so the $25 minimum (7 CFR 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C))"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "state": "TX",
        "size": 3,
        "elderly": false,
        "earned": 1000,
        "unearned": 0,
        "assets": 3500,
        "rent": 600,
        "util": 0,
        "care": 0,
        "support": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "assetTest": "Over the limit",
        "assetLimit": 3000,
        "benefit": 0
      },
      "source": "USDA FNS FY 2027 maximum asset limits (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola): $3,000 for households with no member 60+ or disabled"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP FY 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (income limits, deductions, asset limits): https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola",
    "USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Eligibility: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility",
    "Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 273.10(e) (net income and eligibility): 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",
    "federal-poverty-level",
    "ssi"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}