SNAP benefit amounts are based on a combination of factors including income, expenses, household size, age, disability, etc. The SNAP benefit amount for each household is automatically calculated by BEACON. However, this page details the steps that staff can follow if they need to perform the calculation manually.
The sheet below displays each step:
Click here for a copy of this sheet.
Each amount must be entered as a monthly figure. This means if any income or expense is received at a frequency other than monthly (e.g., weekly, biweekly), you must convert it to a monthly figure before you apply the manual SNAP benefits calculation displayed above.
For instructions on completing this sheet, follow the steps below.
Step One: Calculate the Household’s Total Income
Add together the household’s countable earned and unearned income.
Note |
If the Total Income exceeds the household’s gross income limit, the household will be denied for over-income and the calculation will not proceed to the next step. The gross income limits based on household type and size are detailed in the Helpful Charts and Figures.
A SNAP household that includes at least one elderly or disabled member is not subject to a gross income test.
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Step Two: Determine the Preliminary Deductions
Add together the following individual deduction amounts:
Standard Deduction: This is a deduction that every household receives based on the number of household members.
Earned Income Deduction: This equals 20% of the household’s Countable Earned Income.
Countable Medical Deduction: This is the total value of the household’s countable medical expenses - $35, or it is the standard medical deduction of $155.
Dependent Care Deduction: This is the total value of the household’s countable expenses for a babysitter, child-care provider, or elder care provider.
Child Support Deduction: This is the total amount that the household is currently paying for legally-obligated child support.
The sum total of these deduction amounts = Preliminary Deductions.
Step Three: Determine the Preliminary Adjusted Net Income (PANI)
Subtract the Preliminary Deductions from the Total Income. The result of this calculation is known as the Preliminary Adjusted Net Income, or “PANI” for short.
Step Four: Determine the Shelter Deduction
Add together the following individual deduction amounts:
Shelter Costs: This is the total amount that the household incurs for rent, mortgage, and/or any other countable shelter expense. Charges for property taxes, home insurance, and/or any other fees that are not included the mortgage must be added to the shelter costs.
Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): This is the standard credit that the household receives based on the utilities that they are obligated to pay.
After adding together Shelter Costs and SUA, subtract half of the PANI to determine the Excess Shelter Expense.
If the household does not include an elderly or disabled member, the Excess Shelter Expense cannot be higher than the Maximum Shelter Deduction amount, as listed in the Helpful Charts and Figures.
If the household is homeless, the Excess Shelter Expense must be equal to the Homeless Shelter Deduction (as listed in the Helpful Charts and Figures), unless the Excess Shelter Expense is higher than the Homeless Shelter Deduction. For more information, see Shelter Deduction for Homeless Households.
The Excess Shelter Expense = The Shelter Deduction.
Step Five: Determine the Monthly Net Income
Subtract the Shelter Deduction from the PANI. The result of this calculation is the Monthly Net Income.
Step Six: Determine the Monthly SNAP Amount
Subtract 30% of the Monthly Net Income from the maximum benefit amount that the household can received based on size. The maximum allotments for the individual household sizes can be found in the Helpful Charts and Figures.
Example
Mary receives SNAP benefits for themself and their two children. Mary is working and earns gross wages of $1,517 per month (or roughly $350 per week). The household has no other income. Their rent is $992 per month, and they are responsible to pay for heat. Mary is also responsible for paying $78 per month in dependent care expenses. The household has no other expenses. The household is not homeless, and it does not include any elderly or disabled members.
Step One: Calculate the Household’s Total Income
Step Two: Determine the Preliminary Deductions
Step Three: Determine the PANI
Step Four: Determine the Shelter Deduction
Step Five: Determine the Monthly Net Income
Step Six: Determine Monthly SNAP Amount
Important |
The Standard Deduction, SUA, Maximum Shelter Deduction amount, and Maximum Benefit used in this example are current as of Spring 2022. However, these deduction amounts are usually updated every year with the SNAP cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). To see the most up-to-date figures, see the Helpful Charts and Figures. |