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

$1,696 a month before taxes, and $1,305 after allowed deductions, in the 48 states and DC. That's for October 2025 through September 2026. Alaska and Hawaii run higher.

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

Both, and you have to pass both. 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.

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 well above the federal number, 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 a resource limit in some states: $3,000 for most households in 2026, or $4,500 if someone is 60 or older or disabled. Your home and most retirement accounts don't count, and many states have dropped this test entirely.

Guides

SNAP income limits for 2026

Checked August 2026 against the USDA FY2026 COLA tables

$1,696/mo for one, $3,483 for four

Those are the gross monthly limits for most households from October 2025 through September 2026. Near the line? Apply anyway. Deductions and state rules push the real cutoff higher than this table.

The official 2026 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	$1,696	$1,305	$298
2	$2,292	$1,763	$546
3	$2,888	$2,221	$785
4	$3,483	$2,680	$994
5	$4,079	$3,138	$1,183
6	$4,675	$3,596	$1,421
7	$5,271	$4,055	$1,571
8	$5,867	$4,513	$1,789
Each extra person	+$596	+$459	+$218

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. Many states allow gross income up to 165% or 200% of the poverty line. The table above is the strictest case, not yours necessarily.
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.

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?: $1,696 a month before taxes, and $1,305 after allowed deductions, in the 48 states and DC. That's for October 2025 through September 2026. Alaska and Hawaii run higher.
Is the limit based on gross pay or take-home?: Both, and you have to pass both. 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.
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 well above the federal number, 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 a resource limit in some states: $3,000 for most households in 2026, or $4,500 if someone is 60 or older or disabled. Your home and most retirement accounts don't count, and many states have dropped this test entirely.