Income limits
SNAP has two income tests, and most households must pass both. The gross income test compares your household's total monthly income, before deductions, with 130% of the federal poverty line. The net income test compares your income after the allowed deductions with 100% of the poverty line. If you fail either test, you do not qualify — with one major exception: households with an elderly member (age 60 or older) or a disabled member do not take the gross income test at all and only have to pass the net test.
- FY2026 gross limits (130%): 1: $1,696; 2: $2,292; 3: $2,888; 4: $3,483; 5: $4,079; 6: $4,675; 7: $5,271; 8: $5,867; each additional +$596.
- FY2026 net limits (100%): 1: $1,305; 2: $1,763; 3: $2,221; 4: $2,680; 5: $3,138; 6: $3,596; 7: $4,055; 8: $4,513; each additional +$459.
- Households with a member age 60+ or with a disability skip the gross test — only the net test applies.
- Many states use broad-based categorical eligibility, which can raise the gross limit (up to 200% of poverty in some states). Your state agency's limit is the one that counts — see SNAP and other benefits.
The FY2026 tables in full
| Household size | Gross monthly limit (130%) | Net monthly limit (100%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,696 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $2,292 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $2,888 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $3,483 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $4,079 | $3,138 |
| 6 | $4,675 | $3,596 |
| 7 | $5,271 | $4,055 |
| 8 | $5,867 | $4,513 |
| Each additional person | +$596 | +$459 |
Worked example, labelled as calculated: a three-person household with gross income of $2,800 passes the gross test ($2,800 is below $2,888). After deductions (see deductions and net income), suppose its net income is $2,000 — that passes the net test too ($2,000 is below $2,221), so the household qualifies, and its benefit is $785 − 30% of $2,000 = $785 − $600 = $185 per month.
What counts as income
Counted income includes earnings from work, unemployment benefits, Social Security, SSI, pensions, child support received, and most other cash payments. Some things do not count: most student financial aid used for tuition, loans, and certain energy assistance. Self-employed households count net earnings after business costs, not gross receipts. If your income varies month to month, the agency generally averages it — ask your caseworker how fluctuating income is treated in your state.
The resource (asset) test
Income is not the only test. Most households must also have countable resources within the limits: $3,000 for most households, $4,500 for households with an elderly or disabled member (FY2026). Countable resources include bank accounts and cash; excluded are your home, your household goods, and usually one vehicle (states vary on vehicles). Many states have eased or removed the asset test through broad-based categorical eligibility, so do not assume you are disqualified by savings — apply and let the agency decide.
Sources to check: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustment information, fiscal year 2026 (FY2026 memo); CRS, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits; 7 CFR 273.9 (income and deductions).