What SNAP Benefits Are
SNAP benefits are monthly money for groceries, loaded on an EBT card, for people with low incomes. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is the program Americans knew as food stamps until the 2008 Farm Bill renamed it as of October 1, 2008 (USDA). The federal government sets the rules and pays for the benefits, and each state runs the program and takes applications.
Key facts
- An average of 42.1 million people got SNAP each month in fiscal 2025, at about $189 per person (USDA).
- From October 1, 2026, the most a family of four can get is $1,023 a month, up from $994 (USDA).
- Your benefit is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income (USDA).
- 23 states won federal approval to bar soda, candy or both, and a court blocked 5 of those approvals in June 2026 (USDA).
The benefit is meant to supplement a household’s food budget, not cover all of it. USDA sets the maximum from the cost of its thrifty food plan, a low-cost grocery list for a family of four, and raises it with food prices each October (Public Law 119-21, section 10101).
- 42.1M
- Average people on SNAP each month, fiscal 2025
- 36.4M
- People on SNAP in June 2026 (preliminary)
- $1,023
- Maximum monthly benefit for four, from October 1, 2026
- $95.8B
- Benefits paid in fiscal 2025
Who Qualifies for SNAP
You generally qualify for SNAP if your household’s income is below the limits for its size, your countable savings are under the resource limit, and you meet the citizenship and work rules. Most households must pass two income tests: gross monthly income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line, and net income, after deductions, at or below 100% (USDA).
The limits change every October 1 with the new poverty guidelines. USDA’s limits for October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, follow HHS’s 2026 poverty guidelines (USDA; HHS).
SNAP monthly income limits, 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Three rules change who counts as eligible:
- Older and disabled members. A household with someone 60 or older or with a disability only has to meet the net income limit, not the gross limit (USDA).
- Savings. Countable resources, such as cash and bank balances, can be no more than $3,000, or $4,750 if a member is 60 or older or disabled. A home, most retirement accounts, and the resources of people on SSI or TANF do not count (USDA).
- Higher state limits. Many states use an option called broad-based categorical eligibility to raise the gross income limit or drop the savings test, so check your state’s own figures.
Citizenship. SNAP has never been open to undocumented immigrants. Since July 2025 the law limits eligible non-citizens to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people from Compact of Free Association nations (Public Law 119-21, section 10108). Adults in those groups generally must also have lived in the U.S. for 5 years or receive disability benefits, and children under 18 are exempt from the wait (USDA). When some people in a household are not eligible, the state must still decide eligibility for the others, such as U.S. citizen children.
Students and work rules. Most college students ages 18 to 49 enrolled at least half time cannot get SNAP unless they meet an exemption (USDA). Many adults without young children face a 3-month time limit unless they work or train 80 hours a month. Our SNAP work requirements guide covers who the rule reaches after the 2025 law and how to stay eligible.
How Much SNAP You Get
Your monthly SNAP benefit equals the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income. SNAP expects a household to spend about 30% of its own net income on food, and the benefit fills the gap up to the maximum (USDA). A household with no net income gets the full maximum.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $306 |
| 2 people | $562 |
| 3 people | $808 |
| 4 people | $1023 |
| 5 people | $1217 |
| 6 people | $1463 |
| 7 people | $1616 |
| 8 people | $1841 |
Source: USDA, SNAP Eligibility, Table 4 (page updated October 1, 2026), 48 contiguous states and D.C. Each figure is 8 to 52 dollars higher than fiscal 2026. Add $225 for each person past eight.
How USDA's example household of four gets a SNAP benefit
- Step 1 Gross income $2,050 Wages and Social Security added together. It is under the gross limit for four, so the household moves to the net test.
- Step 2 Subtract deductions USDA subtracts 20% of earnings, a standard deduction, child care costs for work, and shelter costs above half of the remaining income. Shelter is capped at $769 unless someone is elderly or disabled.
- Step 3 Net income $1,056.5 What is left after deductions. It is under the net limit for four.
- Step 4 30% of net income is $317 The share SNAP expects the household to spend on food, rounded up to the dollar.
- Step 5 Benefit $706 a month The maximum for four from October 1, 2026, $1,023, minus that 30%.
Source: USDA, SNAP Eligibility, Tables 2, 3 and 5 (figures for October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027).
Four deductions do most of the work: 20% of earned income, a standard deduction ($217 for households of one to three from October 1, 2026), medical costs over $35 a month for elderly or disabled members, and excess shelter costs (USDA). Report every rent, utility and child care cost when you apply, because each one can raise your benefit.
What You Can Buy With SNAP
You can buy food for your household with SNAP, including produce, meat, dairy, bread, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and seeds and plants that grow food. You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or supplements, foods that are hot when you buy them, live animals, pet food, or household and hygiene supplies (USDA).
A growing list of states now bars soda, candy or both. Under waivers USDA began approving in 2025, 23 states won permission to restrict what SNAP can buy. As of USDA’s October 13, 2026 update, the restrictions were in effect in 8 states (Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah) and scheduled in 10 more (USDA).
On June 22, 2026, in Aragon v. Rollins, Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the federal district court in Washington vacated USDA’s approvals for Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia. She held that the law USDA relied on, 7 U.S.C. 2026(b), “does not cover projects aimed towards improving the health of SNAP recipients,” and her order says the five pilot projects “may not proceed” (opinion; order). USDA appealed to the D.C. Circuit on August 20, 2026. Nebraska filed a new request on September 1, 2026, to start December 1, and USDA is taking public comments through November 2 before it decides (USDA).
Status of the state's food restriction waiver
- In effect (8 states)
- Approved, starts later (10 states)
- Approval vacated by a court, June 2026 (5 states)
- No approved waiver
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Food Restriction Waivers (page updated October 13, 2026). Status as of October 14, 2026.
| State | Status | Restricts |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | In effect since July 1, 2026 | Soda, juice drinks under 50% juice, energy drinks and candy |
| Colorado | Approval vacated June 22, 2026 (Aragon v. Rollins) | Soft drinks |
| Florida | In effect since April 20, 2026 | Soda, energy drinks, candy and prepared desserts |
| Hawaii | Scheduled for April 1, 2027 | Soft drinks |
| Idaho | In effect since February 15, 2026 | Soda and candy |
| Indiana | In effect since January 1, 2026 | Soft drinks and candy |
| Iowa | Approval vacated June 22, 2026 (Aragon v. Rollins) | All taxable food items under Iowa tax law |
| Kansas | Scheduled for February 15, 2027 | Candy and soft drinks |
| Louisiana | In effect since February 18, 2026 | Soft drinks, energy drinks and candy |
| Missouri | Scheduled for February 15, 2027 | Candy, prepared desserts and certain sugary drinks |
| Montana | Scheduled for November 1, 2026 | High-sugar drinks, energy drinks, candy and prepared desserts |
| Nebraska | Approval vacated June 22, 2026 (Aragon v. Rollins). New request filed September 1, 2026, for December 1, 2026 (candy from March 1, 2027); USDA has not acted | Soda, soft drinks and energy drinks |
| Nevada | Scheduled for February 1, 2028 | Candy and sugar-sweetened drinks |
| North Dakota | Scheduled for November 1, 2026 | Sweetened drinks, energy drinks and candy |
| Ohio | Scheduled for April 1, 2027 | Sugar-sweetened drinks and all fountain drinks |
| Oklahoma | In effect since February 15, 2026 | Soft drinks and candy |
| South Carolina | Scheduled for November 1, 2026 | Candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and sweetened drinks |
| Tennessee | Approval vacated June 22, 2026 (Aragon v. Rollins) | Processed foods and drinks such as soda, energy drinks and candy |
| Texas | In effect since April 1, 2026 | Sweetened drinks and candy |
| Utah | In effect since January 1, 2026 | Soft drinks |
| Virginia | Scheduled for November 1, 2026 | Sweetened drinks |
| West Virginia | Approval vacated June 22, 2026 (Aragon v. Rollins) | Soda |
| Wyoming | Scheduled for February 1, 2027 | Sweetened, carbonated drinks |
USDA calls the waivers “a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP” (USDA). The SNAP participants who sued in Aragon v. Rollins argued that USDA exceeded its authority in approving them. If you live in a state with a waiver in effect, restricted items cannot be bought with SNAP.
How to Apply for SNAP
You apply for SNAP through your state’s SNAP agency, online, by mail, by fax, or in person, and the state must decide within 30 days. USDA keeps a directory of every state’s agency and application (USDA).
The path from application to benefits
- Day 1 File an application You have the right to turn in an application the same day you ask for it, and filing starts the clock.
- Within days Interview with an eligibility worker Federal rules require an interview when you first apply and at least once a year after. Ask your state whether you can do it by phone.
- Before the decision Send proof Income, identity, rent and utility costs, and child care or medical costs if you have them.
- Within 7 days Emergency benefits if you have little or no money Households with very little income or cash can get benefits within 7 days of applying.
- Within 30 days Decision and EBT card The state approves you and sends an EBT card, or tells you in writing why not. You can ask for a fair hearing if you disagree.
Sources: USDA, SNAP Your Rights; 7 CFR 273.2 (applications and interviews).
Benefits last for a set certification period, and you must renew before it ends. Report the changes your state asks you to report, such as a new job, so an overpayment does not build up.
If something goes wrong
Your application is taking longer than 30 days
- Call your state SNAP office and ask for the status and the date you filed.
- Ask whether they are waiting on a document, and send it the same day.
- If the state missed the deadline, ask for a fair hearing or contact a legal aid office.
USDA says you have the right to benefits, or a notice that you are not eligible, within 30 days after you apply.
You were denied or your benefit was cut
- Read the notice for the reason and the deadline to appeal.
- Ask for a fair hearing before that deadline. USDA says you have 90 days from the decision, by phone, in writing or in person.
- Bring pay stubs, rent receipts and any document the notice says was missing.
You have almost no money for food right now
- Say so when you apply, and ask to be screened for emergency benefits.
- Contact your local food bank for food this week.
- Ask your child's school about free meals.
USDA says households with very little income or cash may get SNAP within 7 days, not 30.
Benefits are late during a government shutdown
- Check your state agency's site before the first of the month.
- Line up a food bank or mutual aid group before a funding deadline.
- Read our shutdown explainer for what happened in November 2025.
November 2025 benefits did not go out on schedule during the last shutdown. See our government shutdown guide.
General information, not legal advice. Your state's notices and deadlines control.
The fall 2025 shutdown stopped November benefits. On October 24, 2025, USDA told states it was “suspending all November 2025 benefit allotments until such time as sufficient federal funding is provided,” as a federal court in Rhode Island quoted the memo. On November 6, Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered USDA “to make full payment of November SNAP benefits to the States by Friday, November 7, 2025” (order). Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paused that order on November 7, the full Supreme Court extended the pause on November 11 to 11:59 p.m. on November 13, and the government withdrew its request on November 13 (Supreme Court docket 25A539).
How Many People Get SNAP
About 42.1 million people got SNAP in an average month of fiscal 2025, below the peak of 47.6 million in 2013. Participation set a new record every year from 2008 through 2013, after the Great Recession, then eased (USDA; USDA history).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 26.3 |
| 2009 | 33.5 |
| 2011 | 44.7 |
| 2013 | 47.6 |
| 2015 | 45.8 |
| 2017 | 42.3 |
| 2019 | 35.7 |
| 2021 | 41.6 |
| 2023 | 42.2 |
| 2025 | 42.1 |
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Participation and Costs, fiscal 1969-2025 (data as of September 11, 2026). Every second year shown.
Enrollment has fallen fast since the 2025 law. In September 2025, 41.2 million people got SNAP. By June 2026 the preliminary count was 36.4 million, 4.9 million fewer, a drop of 11.8% in nine months (USDA). USDA’s monthly data do not say why people left, so the drop can reflect the new work and citizenship rules, a stronger job market, or both.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 41.2 |
| Oct 2025 | 40.7 |
| Dec 2025 | 39.2 |
| Feb 2026 | 37.9 |
| Apr 2026 | 37.1 |
| Jun 2026 | 36.4 |
Source: USDA, SNAP 4-year monthly data (data as of September 11, 2026). Fiscal 2026 figures are preliminary and subject to revision.
What the 2025 Law Changed
The 2025 budget law, Public Law 119-21, tightened SNAP’s work rules and its citizenship rule, trimmed two deductions, capped future food plan increases, and shifted more of the cost to states. It passed in July 2025, and its changes phase in from 2025 through fiscal 2028, or 2030 for states with the highest error rates (Public Law 119-21).
SNAP changes in Public Law 119-21
Source: Public Law 119-21, sections 10101-10108, enrolled text on govinfo.
Our SNAP work requirements guide covers the work rule, the waiver fight, the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of how many people lose benefits, and what each state would owe under the cost share.
SNAP Questions
What are SNAP benefits?
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the federal program formerly called food stamps. It puts money for groceries on an EBT card each month for people with low incomes. About 42 million people a month received it in fiscal 2025.
Is SNAP the same as food stamps?
Yes. The 2008 Farm Bill renamed the Food Stamp Program the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as of October 1, 2008. Benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card at grocery stores, not as paper stamps, and some states use their own name for the program.
How much SNAP will I get?
Your benefit is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income. Starting October 1, 2026, the maximum is $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. A household with no net income gets the maximum.
What is the income limit for SNAP?
From October 1, 2026, most households must have gross monthly income at or below $1,729 for one person or $3,575 for four, and net income at or below $1,330 or $2,750. Households with someone 60 or older or disabled only need to meet the net limit. Many states set a higher gross limit.
What can you buy with SNAP?
Food for your household, including fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and seeds and plants that grow food. You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, hot foods, pet food or household supplies. In 8 states a waiver now also bars soda, candy or both.
Can undocumented immigrants get SNAP?
No. SNAP has never been open to undocumented immigrants. Since the 2025 law, eligible non-citizens are limited to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people from Compact of Free Association nations, and adults in those groups generally must also have lived in the U.S. for 5 years or receive disability benefits. When some members of a household are not eligible, the state must still decide eligibility for the others, such as citizen children.
What You Can Do
- Apply if you might qualify. Only the state can tell you for sure, and an application starts the 30-day clock. Find your state in USDA’s directory.
- Keep your documents together: pay stubs, rent, utility bills and child care costs. Missing proof is a common reason for delays.
- Check your state’s food restriction rules in the map above before you shop, if you live in a waiver state.
- Tell your members of Congress what SNAP means for your family before the next farm bill and funding deadline. Our letter-writing guide shows how.
- Support your local food bank and learn how mutual aid networks fill gaps when benefits run late.