The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), is a federally funded program that provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious food.
The general purpose of SNAP is to safeguard the wellbeing and health of the nation’s population by preventing hunger and malnutrition. SNAP also strengthens the nation’s economy by increasing local economic activity.
Eligibility guidelines are developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The amount of SNAP benefits the household receives is based primarily on your monthly income and the number of people in your household.
To receive SNAP, the applicant/client must be low income and be a US citizen or legal noncitizen. Eligibility for SNAP benefits depends primarily on the number of people in your household and the household’s total income. Expenses, such as dependent care costs, medical deductions, child support and shelter costs are also considered in determining SNAP eligibility and benefits.
SNAP benefits are calculated based on the total household income and allowable expenses. Unless the household includes at least one elderly (age 60 or over) or disabled individual, the total household income must be below the gross monthly income limit for the household size. If the household’s income is below the gross monthly income limit, allowable expenses will be deducted to determine the household’s net monthly income. To qualify for SNAP, a household’s income must not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
There is no gross income limit for a household that includes an elderly and/or disabled person.
Most households are categorically eligible for SNAP benefits and therefore are not subject to an asset test. If the household has a member with an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), or the household is over the required income limit for categorical eligibility, then the household is subject to a $3,000 asset limit. If the household includes elderly or disabled members, however, the asset limit is $4,500.