Short answer
What is the income limit for food stamps?
For October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the federal SNAP gross monthly income limit is $1,729 for 1 person and $3,575 for a household of 4 (130 percent of poverty), and the net limit is $1,330 and $2,750 (100 percent of poverty), in the 48 states and DC (official limits). (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Many states use higher gross limits through broad-based categorical eligibility, so check your state page. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Your state SNAP agency decides eligibility and your amount.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit (130% of poverty) | Net monthly income limit (100% of poverty) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 |
| Each additional member | +$616 | +$474 |
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility (page updated October 01, 2026) and SNAP COLA, FY 2027 (page updated October 21, 2026). Verified .
Your state SNAP agency decides eligibility and benefit amounts. Benefit Bull is free and never applies for you.
What is the difference between gross and net income for SNAP?
USDA defines gross income as a household's "total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made," and net income as "gross income minus allowable deductions." (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) In most cases a household must meet both limits. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility)
The deductions USDA lists are: (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility)
- 20 percent of earned income.
- A standard deduction, an estimated $217 for households of 1 to 3 people in the 48 states and DC (higher for some larger households).
- Dependent care, when needed for work, training, or education.
- Medical costs above a monthly threshold for elderly or disabled members, if insurance or someone else does not pay them.
- Legally owed child support, in some states.
- A standard shelter deduction for homeless households.
- Excess shelter costs that are more than half of income after other deductions, up to a cap that does not apply when a member is elderly or disabled.
Use gross income for the first test, then subtract deductions to see where net income lands. Your state does the official math.
Why does my state show a higher food stamp income limit?
Most states have adopted broad-based categorical eligibility, which USDA says "allows state agencies to align income and resource limits with their TANF-funded programs." Under it, households are categorically eligible for SNAP if they are eligible for a TANF or state-funded non-cash benefit. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility)
That is why your state page may show a gross limit higher than the federal table above. Even then, USDA says a household still has to meet non-financial rules and have income low enough to get a benefit. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Your state's page, linked in step 6, has the limit your state uses.
If your gross income is over the federal limit, check your state page before you rule yourself out.
Is there a savings or resource limit for SNAP?
Under federal rules, the countable resource limit, which covers things like cash and bank balances, is $3,000, or $4,750 if at least one member is 60 or older or disabled (official limits). (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP COLA, FY 2027)
Some resources are not counted: a home and lot, the resources of people who get SSI or TANF, and most retirement and pension plans. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) States that use broad-based categorical eligibility may not apply these limits at all. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility)
Your state page says whether your state applies these resource limits.
Do seniors and people with disabilities have different SNAP income rules?
Yes. A household with an elderly or disabled member only has to meet the net income limit, not the gross limit. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) There are other special rules too, for medical costs and shelter costs. Our guide to SNAP for seniors covers them.
Is a household member 60 or older, or disabled? Read the seniors guide first, because the gross column may not apply to you.
What is the most SNAP pays?
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit (estimated up to) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| 9 to 17 | $225 for each additional person |
Most households get less than the maximum. Your amount is estimated by your state from your income and deductions. USDA figures a benefit by taking 30 percent of net income and subtracting it from the maximum for your household size. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Eligible households of 1 or 2 people get at least an estimated $25 a month. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP COLA, FY 2027) Maximums are higher in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP COLA, FY 2027)
Can a household get $1,000 a month in food stamps? The maximum for a household of 4 is an estimated $1,023, and only households with very low net income get close to it. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) If your amount changed, see why SNAP benefits go down, and if your case was closed or denied, see what to do if SNAP stopped or was denied.
Treat the maximum as a ceiling, not a promise. Your state notice shows your real amount.
What are the SNAP rules in your state?
| State | Our guide | Official agency |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts SNAP income limits | Department of Transitional Assistance (Mass.gov) |
| Minnesota | Minnesota SNAP income limits | Department of Children, Youth, and Families |
| Texas | Texas SNAP income limits | Texas Health and Human Services |
| Indiana | Indiana SNAP income limits | FSSA Division of Family Resources |
| Kentucky | Kentucky SNAP income limits | kynect benefits |
For every other state, use USDA's SNAP State Directory of Resources to find your state agency. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP State Directory)
Open your state page next. It has the limit your state uses and how to apply there.
How do you apply for SNAP?
SNAP applications go to the agency in your own state. Each state has its own application and process, and you can contact the agency by visiting a local SNAP office, its website, or its SNAP hotline. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Use the state table above or the state directory. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP State Directory)
You submit your application yourself on the official site. Benefit Bull is free and never files for you. If someone else needs to apply for you, see can someone apply for SNAP on my behalf. Already getting SNAP? See how SNAP recertification works. Out of work? See how unemployment counts as income for SNAP. For health coverage, see our guide to Medicaid income limits.
Apply even if you are not sure. Your state decides, and you may qualify under its rules.
Which SNAP numbers matter most?
- $1,729
- Official gross monthly income limit, 1 person, Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027
- $3,575
- Official gross monthly income limit, household of 4
- $306
- Estimated maximum monthly benefit, 1 person
- $1,023
- Estimated maximum monthly benefit, household of 4
See which food programs may fit your household, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility)
What this adds up to
The federal table is the starting point: $1,729 gross and $1,330 net a month for 1 person, $3,575 and $2,750 for 4 (official limits). (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Homes with an elderly or disabled member skip the gross test, and most states use broad-based categorical eligibility, so your state page may show a higher gross limit. (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility) Most households get less than the estimated maximum benefit. Your state decides, and you apply yourself on its official site.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked October 2026. Last updated October 24, 2026.
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility (page updated October 01, 2026) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information, FY 2027 (page updated October 21, 2026) (accessed October 23, 2026)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP State Directory of Resources (accessed October 23, 2026)
