SNAP: Help with everyday groceries.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Monthly food benefits delivered on an EBT card, the largest US anti-hunger program, formerly known as food stamps.
Reviewed by SubhaVerified
Monthly maximum
$306
One-person household, 48 states + D.C., from Oct 1, 2026
Benefit delivery
EBT card
Loaded monthly, used at grocery stores
Standard processing
30 days
7 days if you qualify for expedited service
Where to apply
Your state
Your state's SNAP agency
Figures on this page were last verified October 16, 2026. Amounts and rules change, so confirm them with USDA Food and Nutrition Administration before you apply.
What is SNAP?
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is the USDA-funded food-assistance program, formerly known as food stamps, that delivers monthly grocery benefits on an EBT card at nearly every US supermarket, farmers market, and many convenience stores.
About 41 million people received SNAP monthly at the start of FY2026, though participation has been dropping since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of July 4, 2025 tightened work requirements to age 64 and narrowed non-citizen eligibility, per the CBPP SNAP Tracker.
From October 1, 2026 (fiscal year 2027), the maximum benefit is $306 per month for a one-person household, $1,023 for a family of four and $1,841 for an eight-person household in the 48 contiguous states plus DC, per the USDA FY2027 cost-of-living memo.
From October 2025 through June 2026, the average benefit was about $189 per person per month. Eligibility runs to 130 percent of the federal poverty level for gross income, and most states have raised or eliminated the asset test through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility.
Apply through your state's benefits portal (directory at fna.usda.gov/snap/state-directory).
SNAP is the federal program that helps low-income households afford groceries. Benefits are loaded each month onto an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card that works like a debit card at most grocery stores, farmers' markets, and many gas-station convenience stores.
SNAP is funded by USDA but applications are handled by the state, you apply through your state's social-services or human-services agency. Benefits and eligibility rules are largely federal, with some state-level variation in income deductions and asset limits.
You can use SNAP for almost any food meant for home preparation: produce, meat, dairy, bread, cereals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and seeds and plants that grow food. You cannot buy hot prepared meals, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food household items.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025 tightened several SNAP rules: expanded work requirements for adults up to age 64, narrower non-citizen eligibility, and reduced automatic utility-allowance qualification.
CBPP has documented the steepest drop in SNAP participation in decades as these changes take effect through 2026.
Who gets SNAP: income, assets and work rules
- Gross monthly income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level ($1,729/mo for 1 person, $2,960 for 3, $3,575 for 4 in FY2027)
- Net monthly income (after deductions like the $217 standard deduction for 1 to 3 people, 20% of earnings, dependent care, medical for elderly/disabled, and excess shelter capped at $769 in FY2027) at or below 100% of the poverty level
- Asset limit of $3,000 ($4,750 if a household member is 60+ or disabled, from Oct 1, 2026), but most states have raised or eliminated this through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
- Post-H.R.1: only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (typically after a 5-year waiting period), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA nationals qualify. Many previously eligible lawful immigrants were removed from eligibility in 2025
- Able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without children under age 14 in the household face a 3-month time limit every 3 years unless they work or train at least 20 hours per week (H.R. 1 expanded the age from 54 to 64 in July 2025)
Only the agency that runs the program can decide eligibility.
For the gross and net income tables by household size, see our guide to SNAP income limits.
How SNAP figures your monthly amount
Maximum monthly benefit
$306/mo
Roughly 41 million people a month in October 2025, and falling since the 2025 law change (CBPP SNAP Tracker)
What the amount depends on
Maximum for a 1-person household in the 48 contiguous states and DC for FY 2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027), up from $298. Maximum rises to $1,023 for 4 people and $1,841 for an 8-person household, +$225 per additional person.
Average benefit was about $189 per person per month in FY2026 (October 2025 to June 2026 data). Minimum benefit for eligible 1-2 person households is $25. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands have higher allotments.
Applying through your state SNAP office
- 01
Find your state's SNAP application portal
USDA maintains a state-by-state directory. Most states accept online applications; some still require an in-person interview.
- 02
Gather your documents
You'll typically need: Social Security numbers, proof of ID, proof of income (pay stubs, benefits letters), proof of housing costs (lease, utility bills), and bank statements.
- 03
Submit the application and complete an interview
Most states require a phone or in-person interview within a few days. The agency must process your application within 30 days, within 7 days if you qualify for expedited service (very low income and cash, or rent and utilities higher than your income and cash).
- 04
Receive your EBT card
If approved, your card arrives in the mail with instructions for setting a PIN. Benefits are loaded the same day each month based on your case number.
For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide on how to apply for SNAP.
Start with the official source
USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
SNAP questions people ask most
The maximum allotment depends on household size and is adjusted by USDA each October. Your actual benefit is the maximum allotment for your household size minus roughly 30% of your net income, so working households receive less than the maximum. USDA publishes the current allotment table at fna.usda.gov/snap.
Yes. About 28 percent of SNAP households have earnings from work (USDA, FY2023). Gross income up to 130% of poverty qualifies, and most states have higher limits through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility. SNAP is designed to supplement low wages, not replace them.
Federal law gives the state 30 days from application to issue a decision. If your household has under $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in cash, or your rent and utilities are more than your income and cash, you qualify for expedited service and must receive benefits within 7 days.
Generally no. A small number of states participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which lets elderly, disabled, and homeless SNAP recipients buy hot meals at approved restaurants. Outside RMP, SNAP cannot be used for hot prepared food. USDA maintains the current list of participating states.
The public charge rules changed in 2026: DHS rescinded the 2022 rule, and for benefits received on or after September 18, 2026, DHS says it will consider any means-tested public benefit when someone applies for a green card.
Many groups are exempt, including refugees, asylees, and T or U visa holders, so if you or a family member has an immigration case, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited legal aid group before applying.
Separately, H.R. 1 (July 2025) narrowed which non-citizens qualify for SNAP: only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (typically after a 5-year waiting period), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association (COFA) nationals now qualify.
Undocumented household members cannot receive SNAP, but their U.S.-citizen children can.
Sources & further reading
- USDA FNA, SNAP Eligibility
- USDA FNA, State-by-state SNAP application directory
- USDA FNA, SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustments (FY2027)
- USDA FNA, SNAP Work Requirements
- CBPP: A Quick Guide to SNAP Eligibility and Benefits (updated Oct 2026)
- CBPP SNAP Tracker: Post-Megabill Participation Data (updated Sep 2026)
- GrantsHubUSA: How Much SNAP Will I Get? (worked examples + formula)
Use official sources to confirm current requirements and benefit amounts.
Reviewed by Subha
Every rule and figure here was checked against the sources above on October 16, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Not legal, tax, or financial advice. GrantsHubUSA is an independent editorial site. We are not a government agency and we do not run this program. See our full disclaimer.
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