# What is my food stamp eligibility?

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-eligibility-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/snap-eligibility-calculator.json
- Version: 9f5d363e7238

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (State Florida, People in the household 2, Someone is 60+ or disabled No, Earned income a month $2,000.00, Other income a month $0.00, Countable resources $1,000.00, Rent or mortgage a month $1,000.00, Utilities a month $0.00, Dependent care a month $0.00, Child support paid a month $0.00): For 2 people in Florida with $2,000.00 of earnings a month: Likely eligible.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| state | State | The state you live in. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. |
| area | Alaska area | Urban, rural 1 or rural 2, as the state of Alaska classifies your community. |
| size | People in the household | People who live together and buy and make food together. |
| elderly | Someone is 60+ or disabled | On when a household member is 60 or older or gets disability benefits. |
| earned | Earned income a month | Gross pay from work before taxes, for the whole household. |
| unearned | Other income a month | Social Security, unemployment, child support received and other income. |
| assets | Countable resources | Cash and money in bank accounts. Your home and most retirement savings do not count. |
| rent | Rent or mortgage a month | Rent or mortgage payments, plus property taxes and home insurance. |
| util | Utilities a month | Heating, cooling, electricity, water, gas, trash and one phone; or your state’s standard utility allowance. |
| care | Dependent care a month | Child or adult care you pay so a member can work or study. |
| support | Child support paid a month | Legally owed child support paid to someone outside the household. |
| medical | Medical costs a month | Out-of-pocket medical costs of members 60 or older or disabled. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| verdict | Federal SNAP eligibility | Whether the household passes every federal test. |
| grossTest | Gross income test | Gross income against 130% of the poverty level. |
| netTest | Net income test | Income after deductions against 100% of the poverty level. |
| assetTest | Resource test | Countable resources against the federal limit. |
| benefit | Estimated benefit a month | The maximum allotment less 30% of net income, when every test passes. |
| gross | Gross income | Earned plus other income, per month. |
| grossLimit | Gross income limit | 130% of the poverty level for the household size. |
| net | Net income | Gross income less all SNAP deductions. |
| netLimit | Net income limit | 100% of the poverty level for the household size. |
| assetLimit | Resource limit | $4,750 with a member 60+ or disabled, else $3,000. |
| apply | Where to apply | The program name in your state. |

## 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.

## Worked examples

1. state = FL, size = 4, elderly = no, earned = $1,500.00, unearned = $550.00, assets = $500.00, rent = $700.00, util = $0.00, care = $362.00, support = $0.00 gives verdict = Likely eligible, gross = $2,050.00, grossLimit = $3,575.00, net = $1,038.50, netLimit = $2,750.00, benefit = $711.00. 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).
2. state = FL, size = 1, elderly = no, earned = $1,800.00, unearned = $0.00, assets = $0.00, rent = $0.00, util = $0.00, care = $0.00, support = $0.00 gives verdict = Not eligible under the federal income tests, grossLimit = $1,729.00, benefit = $0.00. 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.
3. state = PA, size = 1, elderly = yes, earned = $0.00, unearned = $1,800.00, assets = $4,000.00, rent = $1,000.00, util = $200.00, care = $0.00, support = $0.00, medical = $35.00 gives verdict = Likely eligible, grossTest = Does not apply (a member is 60+ or disabled), net = $1,174.50, benefit = $25.00. Source: USDA FNS FY 2027 standards and elderly rules (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility): $1,800 − $217 = $1,583; $306 − $353 is below 0, so the $25 minimum (7 CFR 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C)).
4. state = TX, size = 3, elderly = no, earned = $1,000.00, unearned = $0.00, assets = $3,500.00, rent = $600.00, util = $0.00, care = $0.00, support = $0.00 gives assetTest = Over the limit, assetLimit = $3,000.00, benefit = $0.00. 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.

## FAQ

### What is the income limit for food stamps?

From October 1, 2026, gross income must be at or under 130% of the poverty level: $1,729 a month for one person, $2,345 for two, $2,960 for three and $3,575 for four in the 48 states and DC. Net income must be at or under 100%: $1,330, $1,804, $2,277 and $2,750.

### Who only has to pass the net income test?

A household with a member who is 60 or older or disabled. It skips the gross income test, gets an uncapped shelter deduction and can deduct medical costs over $35 a month.

### How much money can I have in the bank and get food stamps?

The federal limit is $3,000 in countable resources, or $4,750 when a member is 60 or older or disabled. Your home and most retirement accounts do not count. Many states drop this test under broad-based categorical eligibility.

### Can I get food stamps if I am over the income limit here?

Possibly. Most states use broad-based categorical eligibility, which can raise the gross income limit (often to 165% or 200% of the poverty level) and drop the resource test. Apply with your state SNAP agency to get a decision.

## 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