SNAP, the food stamp program, has new numbers for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. In the 48 states and D.C., the maximum monthly benefit is $306 for one person and $1,023 for a family of four. A one-person household generally needs gross income at or below $1,729 a month. Your actual benefit is the maximum minus 30% of your net income.
Key takeaways
- The new SNAP limits cover October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 and apply to the 48 states and D.C. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands have their own, higher tables.
- The maximum monthly benefit is $306 for 1 person, $562 for 2, $808 for 3 and $1,023 for 4. Most households get less than the maximum.
- Most households must pass a gross income test (130% of poverty) and a net income test (100%). For 1 person that means $1,729 gross and $1,330 net a month.
- Your benefit equals the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net monthly income, so each extra dollar of net income lowers it by about 30 cents.
- USDA says its SNAP pages are still being updated for 2025 law changes to work requirements and non-citizen eligibility, so confirm details with your state agency.
If you buy groceries with SNAP, or you are wondering whether you could qualify, the numbers changed on October 1. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Most people still call it food stamps. Benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card at grocery stores.
USDA resets the program’s income limits, maximum payments and deductions every year at the start of the federal fiscal year. Here are the figures for the year that runs through September 30, 2027, and how to estimate what a household could get.
What are the new SNAP limits for 2027?
USDA’s cost-of-living page lists these amounts for the 48 states and D.C. for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have separate, higher tables on the same page.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit | Net monthly income limit | 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 |
For larger households, the gross limit goes up $616 for each added person and the net limit goes up $474. The maximum benefit has its own table for sizes 7 and up.
The one-person gross limit is $1,729 now. Our federal poverty level reference page shows the old figure, $1,696, from the table that ran through September 30, 2026.
How do the SNAP income tests work?
Most households have to pass two tests, according to USDA’s eligibility page:
- Gross income: your total income before deductions must be at or below 130% of the poverty level for your household size.
- Net income: your income after allowed deductions must be at or below 100% of the poverty level.
If your household includes someone who is elderly or disabled, you only have to meet the net income test.
Some households skip the income tests because they are “categorically eligible.” That means they already qualify through another program, such as TANF or SSI. Most states also use broad-based categorical eligibility, which lets them line up SNAP limits with other state programs. Your state’s rules can be more generous than the federal table.
What deductions lower your SNAP income?
Deductions are why a household with a paycheck above the poverty line can still qualify. USDA lists these for the 48 states and D.C.:
| Deduction | 2027 amount |
|---|---|
| Earned income deduction | 20% of earned income |
| Standard deduction, 1 to 3 people | $217 |
| Standard deduction, 4 people | $229 |
| Standard deduction, 5 people | $268 |
| Standard deduction, 6 or more | $308 |
| Excess shelter cost cap | $769 (no cap if someone is elderly or disabled) |
You can also deduct dependent care needed for work or school, and medical costs above $35 a month for elderly or disabled members. Some states allow deductions for court-ordered child support too.
The shelter deduction covers rent or mortgage, property taxes, heating and cooling, electricity, water and the basic phone fee. It only counts the part of those costs that is more than half of your income after the other deductions.
How much SNAP will you actually get?
USDA says SNAP households are expected to spend about 30% of their own resources on food. So the formula is:
Maximum benefit − (30% × net monthly income) = your monthly benefit
USDA rounds the 30% amount up. Here is an illustration with our own numbers. It is not a prediction for any real household.
A family of three in the 48 states earns $1,800 a month from work and pays $1,000 a month for rent and utilities combined.
- Gross income test: $1,800 is below the $2,960 limit for three people.
- Earned income deduction: $1,800 × 20% = $360, leaving $1,440.
- Standard deduction: $1,440 − $217 = $1,223.
- Shelter: half of $1,223 is $611.50. Shelter costs of $1,000 − $611.50 = $388.50 of excess, which is under the $769 cap.
- Net income: $1,223 − $388.50 = $834.50, which is below the $2,277 net limit.
- Benefit: $834.50 × 0.30 = $250.35, rounded up to $251. Then $808 − $251 = $557 a month.
If the family’s pay rose by $100, net income would rise from $834.50 to $954.50 (the 20% deduction takes $20 off the raise, and the shelter deduction shrinks by $40). The benefit would fall from $557 to $521. A raise does not wipe out the benefit overnight. You can test your own budget with our budget calculator and see how much of a raise you keep with the paycheck calculator.
How much money can you have and still qualify?
USDA says most households can have up to $3,000 in countable resources, such as cash or money in a bank account. If someone in the household is 60 or older or disabled, the limit is $4,750.
Some things do not count. These include your home and lot, resources of people who get SSI or TANF, and most retirement accounts. Vehicles are treated under state rules. Many states have raised or dropped these limits through broad-based categorical eligibility, so the number that matters is the one your state uses.
What about the work rules and other recent changes?
USDA’s pages say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changed SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and rules for some non-citizens. USDA also says it is still updating its work requirements page and its eligibility page to reflect those changes.
Because those pages are in flux, we are not going to guess at the details. If you are an adult without children, or you are not a U.S. citizen, ask your state SNAP agency which rules apply to you today before you decide you do not qualify.
What to do now
- Find your household size. SNAP counts everyone who lives together and buys and prepares food together. Spouses and most children under 22 are grouped together even if they eat separately.
- Add up your gross monthly income and compare it with the table above. If someone is 60 or older or disabled, go straight to the net test.
- Gather proof of income, rent or mortgage, utility bills and any child care or medical costs. These are what get you the deductions.
- Apply with your state agency, not with USDA. USDA says it does not process applications. You can apply online in many states or at a local office.
- Ask about expedited service if you have almost no cash. USDA says some households can get benefits within 7 days.
- Report changes and recertify on time. Your approval notice tells you how long you are certified. Watch for the renewal notice before it ends.
This article is general information, not advice about your case. Your state agency makes the final decision on eligibility and the benefit amount.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in 2027?
For the federal fiscal year that runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit in the 48 states and D.C. is $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three and $1,023 for four. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Virgin Islands have higher maximums. Most households receive less than the maximum, because the benefit shrinks as income rises.
What is the SNAP income limit for a family of 4?
In the 48 states and D.C., a household of four generally must have gross income of $3,575 a month or less and net income of $2,750 a month or less. Gross income is your total income before deductions. Net income is what is left after allowed deductions. Households with an elderly or disabled member only need to meet the net limit.
How much SNAP will I get?
USDA says your benefit is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net monthly income, rounded up on the 30% amount. For example, a three-person household with $834.50 in net income would get $808 minus $251, which is $557 a month. Your state agency makes the official calculation using your real expenses.
How much money can you have in the bank and still get SNAP?
USDA lists a countable resource limit of $3,000 for most households and $4,750 if someone is 60 or older or disabled. A home and its lot, and most retirement accounts, do not count. Many states use broad-based categorical eligibility, which can raise or remove these limits, so ask your state SNAP office how it applies to you.
How do I apply for SNAP?
You apply with the SNAP agency in the state where you live, since each state has its own form and process. USDA says most applications get a decision within 30 days, and benefits are backdated to the day you applied if you qualify. You may get benefits within 7 days if your household has very little cash and income.