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ExplainerHow SNAP works: who qualifies for food stamps and what they getA plain-language guide to SNAP eligibility, the income tests, how benefits are calculated, what you can buy and the most common myths.ExplainerCan the government take away your U.S. citizenship?What the Constitution and the Supreme Court say about losing citizenship, how denaturalization works, and what the proposed Enemy Expatriation Act would have changed.ExplainerSeparation of church and state, explainedWhat the First Amendment’s religion clauses say, where the phrase “wall of separation” comes from, and how the Supreme Court’s approach has changed.ExplainerHow to spot a hyperpartisan headline (using this domain’s own past as the example)Seven checks for a viral political headline, with a real case study: a 2016 headline from the former Addicting Info that BuzzFeed News flagged.ExplainerAstroturfing and paid commenters: how fake grassroots campaigns workWhat astroturfing is, documented examples from fake FCC comments to state troll farms, and the signs of a coordinated campaign.

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Tool

SNAP income check

Compare a household’s monthly income with the federal SNAP income limits. This is a quick screen, not an eligibility decision.

Limits shown are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which set SNAP limits for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (fiscal year 2027). Last reviewed October 16, 2026 against USDA’s fiscal year 2027 cost-of-living tables. USDA publishes new limits each October, so check your state agency for the current figures.

SNAP income limits for fiscal year 2027

These are the federal monthly limits for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits, which the tool above uses when you pick them.

Household sizeGross monthly income (130%)Net monthly income (100%)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

The standard deduction is $217 a month for households of one to three people, $229 for four, $268 for five and $308 for six or more. The cap on the excess shelter deduction is $769 a month, and the minimum benefit for one- and two-person households is $25.

What this checks

Most households must have gross monthly income at or below 130% of the poverty line and net income, after deductions, at or below 100%. Households with an older or disabled member only need to meet the net limit. Many states raise the gross limit through broad-based categorical eligibility; your state’s SNAP agency can tell you its limit.

Net income depends on deductions for earnings, housing, child care and medical costs, which this tool doesn’t calculate. If your gross income is a little over the limit, you may still qualify. Read how SNAP works for the details, and apply through your state to get a real decision.