Fact Sheet on Resources, Income, and Benefits
(To see if you might be eligible for SNAP benefits, visit
our pre-screening tool at
http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov)
For Households in the 48 Contiguous States and
the District of Columbia 10/1/12 through 9/30/13. To get SNAP benefits, households must meet certain
tests, including resource and income tests.
Resources:
Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account, or $3250 in countable resources if at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled. However, certain resources are NOT counted,
such as a home and lot, the resources of people who receive Supplemental
Security Income (SSI), the resources of people who receive Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (formerly AFDC), and most
retirement (pension) plans.
The procedures for handling vehicles are determined at the state level. States have the option of substituting the vehicle rules used in their TANF assistance programs for SNAP vehicle rules when it results in a lower attribution of household assets. A number of States exclude the entire value of the household’s primary vehicle as an asset. In States that count the value of vehicles, the fair market value of each licensed vehicle that is not excluded is evaluated. Currently 39 States exclude the value of all vehicles entirely. 11 States totally exclude the value of at least one vehicle per household. The 3 remaining states exempt an amount higher than the SNAP’s standard auto exemption (currently set at $4,650) from the fair market value to determine the countable resource value of a vehicle. For more information concerning State specific vehicle policy, check with the State agency that administers the SNAP program.
Licensed vehicles are NOT counted if they are:
- used for income-producing purposes,
- annually producing income consistent with their fair market value,
- needed for long distance travel for work (other than daily commute),
- used as the home,
- needed to transport a physically disabled household member,
- needed to carry most of the household's fuel or water, or
- if the household has little equity in the vehicle (because of money
owed on the vehicle, it would bring no more than $1,500 if sold).
For the following licensed vehicles, the fair market value over $4,650 is counted:
- one per adult household member, and
- any other vehicle a household member under 18 drives to work, school, job training, or to look for work.
For all other vehicles, the fair market value over $4,650 or the equity
value, whichever is more, is counted as a resource.
Income:
Households have to meet income tests unless all members are receiving
TANF, SSI, or in some places general assistance. Most households must
meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly
person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments
only has to meet the net income test. Households, except those noted,
that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.
(Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013)
Household size |
Gross monthly income
(130 percent of poverty) |
Net monthly income
(100 percent of poverty) |
1
|
$1,211 |
$ 931 |
2
|
1,640 |
1,261 |
3
|
2,069 |
1,591 |
4
|
2,498 |
1,921 |
5
|
2,927 |
2,251 |
6
|
3,356 |
2,581 |
7
|
3,785 |
2,911 |
8
|
4,214 |
3,241 |
Each additional member
|
+429 |
+330 |
Gross income means a household's total, nonexcluded income, before any
deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable
deductions.
*SNAP gross and net income limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
Deductions are allowed as follows:
Gross Income Computation
|
Example |
Determine
household size..... |
4
people with no elderly or
disabled members.
|
Add
gross monthly income... |
$1,500
earned income + $550 social
security =
$2,050 gross income.
|
If
gross monthly income is less
than the limit
for household size, determine net income. |
$2,050
is less than the $2,498 allowed
for a 4-
person household, so determine net income. |
Subtract Deductions to Determine Net Income and Apply the Net Income Test |
Example |
Subtract
20% earned income
deduction.......... |
$2,050 gross income
$1,500 earned income x 20% = $300.
$2,050 - $300 = $1,750
$1,750 - $160 standard deduction for a household size of 4 = $1,590
$1,590 - $361 dependent care = $1,229
0
0
$1,229 adjusted income/2 =
$614
$700 total shelter - $614 (half of
income) = $86 excess shelter cost
$1,236
- $86 = $1,150 Net monthly
income
Since
the net monthly income is
less than $1,838 allowed for a
household of 4, the household has
met the income test. |
Subtract
standard deduction......... |
Subtract
dependent care deduction..... |
Subtract
child support deduction...... |
Subtract
medical costs over $35 for
elderly and disabled......... |
Excess
shelter deduction........
Determine half of adjusted income.......
Determine if shelter costs are more
than half of adjusted income........
Subtract excess amount, but not more
than the limit, from adjusted
income........ |
Apply
the net income test.... |
Benefits:
The amount of benefits the household gets is called an allotment. The
net monthly income of the household is multiplied by .3, and the result
is subtracted from the maximum allotment for the household size to find
the household's allotment. This is because SNAP households are expected
to spend about 30 percent of their income on food.
(October 2012 through September 2013)
People in Household |
Maximum Monthly Allotment |
1 |
$ 200 |
2 |
$ 367 |
3 |
$ 526 |
4 |
$ 668 |
5 |
$ 793 |
6 |
$ 952 |
7 |
$ 1,052 |
8 |
$ 1,202 |
Each additional
person |
$ 150 |
Benefit Computation |
Example |
Multiply
net income by 30%...
(Round up)
Subtract
30% of net income from the
maximum
allotment for the household size... |
$1,150
net monthly income
x .3 = $346.20 (round up to $345)
$668
maximum allotment for 4 - $345
(30% of
net income) = $323, SNAP Allotment
for a full month |
If a household applies after the first day of the month, benefits will
be provided from the day the household applies.
SNAP benefits are available to all eligible households regardless
of race, sex, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs.
For further information, contact your local or State
SNAP office.
It may be listed in the State or local government pages of the telephone
book, under food stamps, social services, human services or a similar
name. You can also find the nearest local office by calling your State's
SNAP hot line.
(To see if you might be eligible for SNAP benefits, visit our
pre-screening tool at http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/
)
Last modified:
01/30/2013
|