Food stamps are provided through a program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Roughly one in seven low-income households gets food assistance through the program.
This is more relevant than ever when you consider that 49% of Americans are struggling with higher food prices, and half of the U.S. is expected to rack up more debt over the holidays.
While anyone can apply, food stamps are limited to people who are either U.S. citizens or legal residents.
If you need some assistance, please read on.
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Table of Contents
Food stamp qualifications
Rising inflation has raised concerns about household food costs, and SNAP benefits have gotten a funding boost for 2024. SNAP is distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can prevent families from shopping at specific stores and restricts the products that SNAP can purchase with the cards.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture adjusts SNAP allotments, deductions and income eligibility requirements at the start of each federal fiscal year. The 2024 fiscal year began on Oct. 1, and the adjustments are based on changes in the cost of living.
Though SNAP benefits increased, eligibility requirements also changed after President Joe Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) in June 2023.
Changes include:
The FRA will increase the age of what the USDA calls “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWD) time limit and will include new groups of individuals exempted from the ABAWD time limit.
Before September 2023, ABAWDs between ages 18 to 50 were required to:
- Work a minimum of 80 hours a month
- Participate in a work program at least 80 hours a month
- Participate in a combination of work and work program hours that total at least 80 hours a month
As of Oct. 1, 2023, these work requirements were expanded to age 52. The USDA says the requirements will expand to age 54 starting in October 2024. The new age and exemption requirements will be effective through Oct. 1, 2030.
However, the USDA says there are some exemptions to ABAWD requirements. These include:
- If you’re unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment
- If you’re pregnant
- If you’re a military Veteran
- If you’re homeless
- If you’re in foster care on your 18th birthday
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Income requirements for SNAP benefits
Eligibility is primarily based on household size and income.
Federal rules dictate that recipients must pass three tests:
- Gross monthly income: Household income must be at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL), which in 2024 is $2,072 per month for a family of three. The threshold is higher for families with more household members.
- Net income: This figure must not exceed the FPL once all deductions are calculated.
- Assets: Household assets must be worth no more than $2,750.
Eligibility requirements for adults ages 60 and up and those with disabilities
According to federal rules, if you’re an adult over the age of 60 or have a disability, your household generally must meet two conditions:
- Your net income is less than or equal to the federal poverty line (FPL).
- Your assets amount to $4,250 or less.
Pro tip: Your net income is your gross income minus any allowable standard deductions. And assets are “countable resources” like cash, money in a bank account, and certain vehicles.
For the fiscal year 2024, a two-member household with a net monthly income of $1,644 (100% of the federal poverty level) would qualify for SNAP.
How much will I get in SNAP benefits?
| SNAP benefits by household size* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit | Estimated average monthly benefit |
| 1 | $291 | $202 |
| 2 | $535 | $372 |
| 3 | $766 | $598 |
| 4 | $973 | $713 |
| 5 | $1,155 | $852 |
| 6 | $1,386 | $1,052 |
| 7 | $1,532 | $1,091 |
| 8 | $1,751 | $1,196 |
| Each additional person | $219 | |
Maximum food stamp allocations by state
For families of four living in the 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the maximum allocation of monthly benefits is $983.
Exceptions: Maximum allotments for a family of four in Alaska will range from $1,248 to $1,937. Families in Hawaii can receive a maximum of $1,759. In two U.S. territories, families in Guam can receive a maximum of $1,434, while those in the U.S. Virgin Islands can receive up to $1,251.
Since March 2020, the federal government has approved an expansion of SNAP benefits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This expansion ensures that recipients of SNAP benefits automatically receive the maximum allotted value if their state meets specific criteria.
Key net-income deductions
The following items can help decrease your total net income and boost your chances of SNAP eligibility:
- Standard deduction: A standard deduction equals 20% of earnings for work-related expenses and payroll taxes.
- Dependent care deduction: Dependent care deduction accounts for out-of-pocket child care or other dependent care expenses necessary for a household member to work. To learn more, visit cbpp.org.
- Child support deduction: The child support deduction is for any legally mandated child support a household member must pay.
- Shelter deduction: A shelter deduction allows a household to deduct certain costs — monthly rent, utility allowances, and some repair costs — exceeding half of its net income. A SNAP household faces a cap on the total costs it can claim. In the fiscal year 2023, the “shelter cap” will be $624 unless the household has a member who has a disability or is 60 or older.
- Medical expense deduction: Many elderly Americans are reluctant to apply for SNAP benefits because they think they will only qualify for the minimum benefit amount, about $15. But that isn’t always the case. That’s because the excess medical expense deduction allows adults ages 60 and up and those with disabilities to apply for a higher benefit. Seniors and those with disabilities can deduct medical expenses that exceed $35 per month, allowing older adults to reduce their net monthly income and receive a more significant benefit.
- USDA pandemic emergency allocations: The USDA has granted waivers to several states to expand eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find a current list at usda.gov.
What counts as income?
- Earned income (before payroll taxes are deducted)
- Cash assistance
- Social Security
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Unemployment insurance
- Child support payments
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What counts as an asset?
Usually, any resource would be available to pay for food. Assets include all bank accounts.
Items that don’t count include:
- Home equity
- Personal property
- Retirement savings
- Automobiles
States can relax the asset limits, and many have done so.
If you qualify for Supplemental Security Income or SSI, you can find application information for SNAP benefits through your local Social Security office. In some states, an SSI application is also for SNAP if the applicant lives alone.
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What food items can people buy with food stamps?
SNAP benefits can be used to buy most groceries. This includes:
- Breads
- Pastries
- Meats
- Poultry
- Fish and seafood (but not live animals or birds)
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy products (including ice cream)
- Snack foods
- Soft drinks
- Plants and seeds to grow food, but not non-edible flowers
Items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits include:
- Alcoholic beverage
- Tobacco products
- Nutritional supplements
- Medications
- Pet food
- Prepared hot foods (rotisserie chickens, ready-to-eat soups, etc.)
- Household goods such as paper towels
- Cleaning products
- Toiletries
- Gasoline
What is EBT?
EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. This is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using their SNAP benefits. When participants shop at SNAP-authorized retail stores, their EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food the family bought. EBT has been the sole method of issuing SNAP benefits in all 50 U.S. states since June of 2004. It is also used in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Some states may have state-specific names for their benefit cards. For example, Texas calls it’s EBT system the Lone Star Card.
Who is not eligible for SNAP benefits
Regardless of income or assets, the following are not eligible:
- Workers on strike
- Non-citizens or undocumented immigrants
- Students attending college, more than half-time
- Certain documented immigrants
Three-month rule: Unemployed non-disabled adults ages 18 to 49 without children or a disability are limited to three months of SNAP benefits every three years in many parts of the country. States have the authority to extend work requirements to other households.
SNAP application process
State agencies regulate SNAP benefits. You’ll need to contact your state office to apply and learn any state-specific income guidelines. The United States Department of Agriculture has compiled a list of guidelines for each state.
The amount of SNAP benefits you can get is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates how much it costs to buy food to prepare nutritious, low-cost meals for your household.
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What is CalFresh?
CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps) is an entitlement program that provides monthly benefits to assist low-income households in purchasing the food they need to maintain adequate nutritional levels. Generally, these benefits are for any food or product intended for human consumption.
CalFresh is available to residents of California who meet one of the following:
- You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001 or
- You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 and share your household with one of the following: a person or persons age 60 and over or
- a person with a disability (a child, spouse, parent, or yourself).
- If your household includes a person with a disability or over 60, your eligibility is based on net income.
For October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, the monthly income limits for CalFresh are:
| People in Household | Gross Monthly Income |
| 1 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $3,288 |
| 3 | $4,144 |
| 4 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $5,858 |
| 6 | $6,714 |
| 7 | $7,570 |
Who uses food stamps?
SNAP provides food assistance to low- and no-income families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands, providing food assistance to low- and no-income people and families. According to the Pew Research Center, 41.9 million people in 22.2 million households received SNAP benefits in April 2023. That translates to 12.5% of the total U.S. population.
On average, 41.2 million people in 21.6 million households received monthly SNAP benefits in the 2022 fiscal year, which ran from October 2021 through September 2022.
Most of the people who receive them are white (41%), with a small percentage being Native Americans (2%). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, about 55% of the households that use food stamps include children, and only 9% are for people over 60.
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The bottom line
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Federal programs like SNAP exist because sometimes people fall on hard times of suffer an unexpected injury. They offer a safety net for those who need support when life’s challenges become overwhelming.
Unfortunately, eligibility requirements can be confusing due to variations in state programs and requirements.
If you aren’t sure whether you’re eligible for food stamps, don’t hesitate to reach out to officials in your state. If you aren’t sure whom to contact, this list from the USDA is a good starting point.
