Quick answer
Your SNAP benefit is the maximum amount for your household size minus 30% of your net income. From Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, the maximum is $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for a family of four in the 48 states and D.C. Most households get less than the maximum because they have some income.
Estimate your SNAP benefit
Enter monthly amounts before taxes. Leave a box empty if it doesn’t apply. Uses the official figures for the 48 states and D.C.
Runs in your browser — nothing you enter is sent or stored.
Key facts for Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027
- Most households must have gross monthly income at or below 130% of the poverty line ($1,729 for one person, $3,575 for four) and net income at or below 100% ($1,330 for one person, $2,750 for four).
- Households with someone 60 or older or disabled only have to meet the net income limit.
- The maximum benefit is $306 for one person and $1,023 for four. Eligible one- and two-person households get at least $25.
- Applying is free. Only your state SNAP agency can decide whether you qualify and how much you get.
Table of contents
How is SNAP calculated?
USDA uses the same five steps for every household. The calculator above follows them in order and shows each one in your results.
- Add up gross income. Earnings from work plus all other income, before taxes.
- Check the gross income limit. Most households must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. Households with a member who is 60+ or disabled skip this test.
- Subtract deductions to get net income: 20% of earnings, the standard deduction, care costs, child support paid, certain medical costs, and excess shelter costs.
- Check the net income limit of 100% of the poverty line.
- Work out the benefit. Take 30% of net income (rounded up), and subtract it from the maximum benefit for your household size. USDA expects households to spend about 30% of their own income on food.
Example: A family of four with $1,330 in net monthly income would expect to pay about $399 toward food (30%, rounded up). Their estimated benefit is $1,023 − $399 = $624 a month.
SNAP income limits and maximum benefits
These are the official monthly figures for Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027. They change every October 1.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit (130% of poverty) | Net monthly income limit (100% of poverty) | Maximum monthly 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 additional person | +$616 | +$474 | +$225 |
48 states and D.C., Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027. Source: USDA FNS COLA tables. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have higher amounts.
What deductions does SNAP allow?
Deductions lower your countable income, which raises your benefit. These are the amounts USDA sets for the 48 states and D.C.
| Deduction | Amount (Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027) |
|---|---|
| Earned income deduction | 20% of earnings from work |
| Standard deduction | $217 for 1–3 people, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, $308 for 6 or more |
| Dependent care | What you pay for child or adult care needed for work, training, or school |
| Medical costs | Out-of-pocket costs above $35 a month for members 60+ or disabled |
| Child support you pay | Legally owed payments (some states treat this differently) |
| Excess shelter costs | Housing and utility costs above half your income after other deductions, up to $769 (no limit if someone is 60+ or disabled) |
| Homeless shelter deduction | $205.66 a month for households experiencing homelessness |
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, internet bills no longer count as a shelter cost for SNAP. States put this in place for new applicants first and for current households at recertification, according to USDA’s implementation guidance.
Is there an asset limit?
Under federal rules, households can have up to $3,000 in countable resources, such as cash or money in a bank account, or $4,750 if a member is 60 or older or disabled. Your home, most retirement accounts, and the resources of people who get SSI or TANF don’t count. Most states use “broad-based categorical eligibility,” which can raise or remove the asset limit, so check your state’s rules.
Why your real amount may differ
- Utility allowances. Most states replace your actual utility bills with a fixed “standard utility allowance,” which may be higher or lower than what you enter.
- Higher state income limits. Many states use broad-based categorical eligibility, which lets some households above 130% of the poverty line qualify.
- Your first month is prorated from the day you apply.
- Other rules on work requirements, students, and non-citizens can affect who counts in your household. The 2025 law changed some of these rules.
How to apply for SNAP
You apply in the state where you live, online, by phone, by mail, or at a local office. Find yours in USDA’s SNAP state directory. Applying is free.
Most states decide within 30 days, after an interview and proof of your information. If your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in cash and bank accounts, or if your rent and utilities are more than your income and cash combined, you may get benefits within 7 days. Benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card at authorized stores.
For more specifics, see our guides on food relief programs by state and how to apply for government assistance.
Related guides
- Does Costco take EBT?
- Government assistance programs by state
- Utility bill help and LIHEAP
- Meals on Wheels: eligibility and cost
Frequently asked questions
How much SNAP will one person get?
From Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, the most one person can get is $306 a month in the 48 states and D.C. Your amount is $306 minus 30% of your net income. Eligible one-person households get at least $25.
What is the SNAP income limit for a family of four?
For Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, a four-person household’s gross monthly income limit is $3,575 (130% of the poverty line). Its net monthly income limit is $2,750 (100%). Many states use higher limits through broad-based categorical eligibility.
Does rent count for SNAP?
Yes. Rent or mortgage, property taxes, home insurance, and utilities count toward the excess shelter deduction. You can deduct housing costs above half of your income after other deductions, up to $769 a month. There’s no limit if someone in the household is 60 or older or disabled.
Can I get SNAP if my income is over the limit?
Possibly. Households with a member 60+ or disabled only need to meet the net income limit. In states that use broad-based categorical eligibility, the gross income limit can be higher. Your state SNAP agency can tell you for sure.
Does internet count as a utility for SNAP?
No. Since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, internet costs no longer count as a shelter expense for SNAP. Heating, cooling, electricity, water, cooking fuel, and one basic phone line still count.
Is this SNAP calculator official?
No. It is a free estimate based on USDA’s published figures. Only your state SNAP agency can decide whether you qualify and how much you get. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Does the calculator save what I enter?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.
Sources
Figures checked against official USDA sources on October 20, 2026. Next scheduled review: August 2027, when USDA publishes the next year’s figures.
This calculator gives an estimate for general information only. It is not an application and not a decision on eligibility. Rules and amounts vary by state and change every year.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.