Household grocery budgets are tighter than ever. A few extra dollars can stretch a family’s meals much farther.
For more than 45 years, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has offered food help to low-income households across the United States.
SNAP benefits (often called food stamps) have evolved significantly over the decades, yet many myths remain.
Understanding SNAP Benefits and How They Can Help
If you’re having trouble covering costs, SNAP can be a helpful resource. It can carry you through a temporary rough patch or provide breathing room in a fixed budget.
Here’s a quick rundown of how the program operates.
What Are SNAP Benefits?
SNAP is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program, serving almost 42 million people.
In the past, food stamps were paper coupons you redeemed for eligible groceries at participating stores.
Nowadays, benefits are loaded onto an electronic benefits transfer card — an EBT card — that functions like a debit card, automatically receiving monthly benefit deposits so recipients can buy food.
Some 248,000 retailers nationwide accept SNAP, and benefits can be used to purchase most food items (with the exception of alcohol and foods that are hot at the point of sale).
Who Uses SNAP?
Let’s dispel some stereotypes.
Below are a few key facts about SNAP participants from a U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis looking at recipients from October 2019 through September 2020.
- Four out of five SNAP households include a child, an older adult or someone with a disability. Only 8% of recipients lived in childless households with able-bodied adults ages 18 to 49.
- SNAP isn’t synonymous with unemployment. Recipients must meet work-related requirements, and more than half (53%) of households with children reported earned income from employment.
- Social Security is the largest source of unearned income among SNAP recipients. Roughly 32% of recipients received an average of $907 per month in Social Security benefits. Around 4% received TANF (temporary assistance), and 25% received SSI, extra income for seniors and people with disabilities.
How Do You Qualify for SNAP?
Wondering whether your household might be eligible? Here are the general eligibility guidelines for SNAP benefits.
You Have Limited Assets and Little or No Emergency Savings
Households can have up to $2,750 in “countable resources,” such as money in a bank account.
Many assets are excluded from the countable resources total.
Your primary residence, land and retirement accounts typically don’t count toward that limit.
Your vehicle may be considered, especially if its fair market value exceeds $4,650.
If someone in the household is 60 or older or has a disability, the resource limit rises to $4,250. That’s one of several special provisions for elderly or disabled applicants.
If you receive SSI or TANF, your resources generally aren’t counted at all.
Your Gross Income Falls Below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level
Most households must pass an income test to qualify. SNAP sets thresholds for both gross income (130% of the federal poverty level) and net income (100% of the federal poverty level).
There are exceptions, such as households where all members receive TANF, SSI or, in some locales, general assistance.
Households with an elderly (60+) or disabled member may only need to meet the net income test.
So what’s the difference between gross and net income?
Gross income is the household’s total income before deductions.
Net income equals gross income minus applicable deductions, which can include:
- 20% of earned income — wages or salaries (this does not include investment income, gifts or other non-work sources)
- A standard deduction of $193 for households of one to four people (higher for bigger households and different in Alaska and Hawaii)
- Childcare costs while you work, train or attend school
- Medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members that exceed $35 per month and aren’t covered by insurance
- Court-ordered child support payments (in some states)
For instance, if your household has two adults and two children (a household of four) and each adult earns $200 per week, your gross monthly income would be ($200 x 2 adults) x 4 weeks = $1,600.
You’d subtract 20% (which is $320) and the standard deduction of $193, leaving a net income of no more than $1,087.
You may also deduct childcare, certain medical expenses and allowable utilities, which could lower your net income further.
For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., monthly income limits by household size are shown below:
SNAP Income Limits
| Household size | Gross monthly income | Net monthly income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,473 | $1,133 |
| 2 | $1,984 | $1,526 |
| 3 | $2,495 | $1,920 |
| 4 | $3,007 | $2,313 |
See the full list of SNAP income limits here. Limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
You’re Working, Retired or Unable to Work
Adults aged 16 to 59 must meet certain work-related requirements to qualify for SNAP. These typically include:
- Registering for work
- Not voluntarily quitting a job or cutting hours
- Accepting a job offer if one is made
- Participating in employment or training programs assigned by your state
Able-bodied adults ages 18 to 49 without dependents (ABAWDs) who aren’t employed can generally receive SNAP for only three months within a three-year period.
To extend benefits beyond that limit, ABAWDs must work or participate in a qualifying work program for at least 20 hours per week.
Exemptions from work requirements include being pregnant, caring for a child under 6 or an incapacitated household member, or having a physical or mental condition that prevents work.
As with any government program, the details matter. Check the state-specific rules for SNAP to see how they apply to your employment and family circumstances.
How Much Can You Receive in SNAP Benefits?
From October 2019 to March 2020, the average SNAP household received $230 per month in benefits.
About 11% of recipients received the program’s minimum benefit of $16. The minimum is available only to one- and two-person households.
During the pandemic, many families received an average increase of $95 in their monthly benefits thanks to COVID-19 emergency allotments.
Those temporary boosts ended nationwide in March 2023, returning benefit levels to their pre-pandemic amounts; several states phased out the supplemental allotments earlier.
How to Apply for SNAP Benefits
To apply, complete the online application for your state — each state runs its own application system. In some states you may need to submit paperwork in person at a local office.
For comprehensive information, visit the USDA’s SNAP webpage.
You can also call your state’s SNAP hotline or speak with a representative at your local SNAP office if you have specific questions.
If you’re looking for additional ways to save on education and enrichment while managing a tight budget, check out these free online educational resources that can help families access learning tools at no cost.
Jordan Avery is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for Savinly. Jordan covers retirement, taxes, investing and life insurance.
