What is the SNAP income limit for one person in 2026?

$1,729 a month before taxes, and $1,330 after allowed deductions, in the 48 states and DC. That's for October 2026 through September 2027. Alaska and Hawaii run higher, and most states raise the gross figure well above this.

How much will I get in food stamps?

Roughly the max for your household size minus 30% of your net income. One person with no countable income gets $306 a month, a family of four $1,023. The calculator on this page runs the real formula on your numbers.

Is the limit based on gross pay or take-home?

Both, and you have to pass both under the regular rules. Gross means before taxes. Net means after SNAP's deductions, which include part of your rent, child care, and some medical costs. Many people who fail the gross number on paper pass after deductions, and most states skip the net test entirely.

Does Social Security count as income?

Yes. Social Security, SSI, unemployment, and most other money coming in counts toward the limits. But if you're 60 or older or disabled, the gross limit doesn't apply to you, only the net one.

What if my income is a little over the limit?

Apply anyway. Most states raise the gross cutoff to 165% or 200% of the poverty line, deductions lower your countable income, and the only real answer comes from your state's application, which is free.

Do savings count against me?

There's an asset limit in some states: $3,000 for most households this year, or $4,750 if someone is 60 or older or disabled. Your home and most retirement accounts don't count, and most states have dropped this test.

Guides

SNAP income limits and benefit calculator

Checked October 2026 against the USDA FY2027 COLA tables and BBCE chart

$1,729/mo for one, $3,575 for four

Those are the federal gross monthly limits for most households from October 2026 through September 2027. Near the line? Apply anyway. Deductions and state rules push the real cutoff higher than this table, and the calculator below shows how.

How much would you get? An estimate

This runs USDA's own math on your numbers, in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere. It's an estimate: your state decides, and it counts a few things this can't.

People in your household State Monthly pay from work, before taxes Other monthly income (Social Security, SSI, unemployment, child support you get) Rent or mortgage per month Utilities per month (heat, electric, water, phone) Child care or adult day care you pay Child support you pay out

Someone in the household is 60 or older, or has a disability No permanent place to stay right now

Figures from USDA's FY2027 tables and state chart, checked October 8, 2026. Alaska uses the urban figures. The calculator doesn't know your state's standard utility allowance, which is often more than what you pay and only helps. Immigration status, student rules, and work requirements can change the answer, and only your state's application settles it.

The official 2026 to 2027 table

These are USDA's numbers for the 48 states and DC. Gross is your income before taxes. Net is what's left after SNAP's deductions. The last column is the biggest monthly benefit a household that size can get.

Household	Gross limit	Net limit	Max benefit
1	$1,729	$1,330	$306
2	$2,345	$1,804	$562
3	$2,960	$2,277	$808
4	$3,575	$2,750	$1,023
5	$4,191	$3,224	$1,217
6	$4,806	$3,697	$1,463
7	$5,421	$4,170	$1,616
8	$6,037	$4,644	$1,841
Each extra person	+$616	+$474	+$225

Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands use higher numbers. The full set is on USDA's COLA page.

Three rules that work in your favor

60 or older, or disabled? The gross limit doesn't apply to you. Only the net test counts, and medical costs over $35 a month are deductible on top of that.
Most states raise the cutoff. The 130% number is the federal floor. 43 states and DC allow gross income up to 160%, 165%, 185%, or 200% of the poverty line, and most of those skip the net test and the savings test too. The calculator uses your state's figure.
Deductions are bigger than people expect. Part of your rent or mortgage, utility costs, child care, and child support paid all come off before the net test. High rent alone qualifies many households that look over the line.

How the benefit amount works

SNAP expects you to spend about 30% of your net income on food and covers the rest, up to the max for your household size. Lower income means a bigger benefit. A household with no countable income gets the full max in the table. One- and two-person households that qualify get at least $25 a month.

Where to apply

Through your state, free, online in most of them. Find your state's application through USDA's state directory. If a website charges a fee to "help you apply," leave. The real application never costs anything.

Common questions

What is the SNAP income limit for one person in 2026?: $1,729 a month before taxes, and $1,330 after allowed deductions, in the 48 states and DC. That's for October 2026 through September 2027. Alaska and Hawaii run higher, and most states raise the gross figure well above this.
How much will I get in food stamps?: Roughly the max for your household size minus 30% of your net income. One person with no countable income gets $306 a month, a family of four $1,023. The calculator on this page runs the real formula on your numbers.
Is the limit based on gross pay or take-home?: Both, and you have to pass both under the regular rules. Gross means before taxes. Net means after SNAP's deductions, which include part of your rent, child care, and some medical costs. Many people who fail the gross number on paper pass after deductions, and most states skip the net test entirely.
Does Social Security count as income?: Yes. Social Security, SSI, unemployment, and most other money coming in counts toward the limits. But if you're 60 or older or disabled, the gross limit doesn't apply to you, only the net one.
What if my income is a little over the limit?: Apply anyway. Most states raise the gross cutoff to 165% or 200% of the poverty line, deductions lower your countable income, and the only real answer comes from your state's application, which is free.
Do savings count against me?: There's an asset limit in some states: $3,000 for most households this year, or $4,750 if someone is 60 or older or disabled. Your home and most retirement accounts don't count, and most states have dropped this test.