The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) makes healthy food more affordable for people with low income. It does so by providing financial benefits that allow you to stretch your budget further each month. SNAP benefits are loaded onto an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which you can use like a debit card to purchase food at grocery stores.

The average SNAP benefit for older adults is $105 per month,1 although benefit amounts can differ by state.

When her husband was laid off, Mrs. Kim, age 66, had a tough time with day-to-day living costs. She went to her local Benefits Enrollment Center to learn how she could get help.

Mrs. Kim found out they met the rules for some programs and got help applying for them. She and her husband started getting $350 per month in SNAP benefits. They also got Medicaid and Extra Help to cover their medical and drug costs.

How do I find out if I can get SNAP?

SNAP is open to anyone who meets its guidelines, from young families to older adults living on their own. Each state has different rules for SNAP. Often, your monthly income must be below a certain amount.

SNAP also looks at the size of your household to decide what food benefits you can get. A household is defined as “everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together.”2

What is the highest income you can have and still get SNAP?

If you are an adult age 60+ or if you have a disability at any age, your household generally must meet one of the following two rules:

  • Your net income is less than or equal to the federal poverty line.
  • Your assets total $4,250 or less.

Your net income is your total income before taxes minus any allowable deductions. Assets are countable resources like cash, money in a bank account, and some vehicles. For 2024 (counted as October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024), a two-person household with a net monthly income of $1,644 (100% of the federal poverty level) might qualify for SNAP. A four-person household with a net income of $2,500 may also qualify.

There are many allowable deductions, such as those for excess medical expenses, that can reduce your net income. Also, certain assets—such as your home, if you own one—do not count toward the $4,250 limit. These rules may make it easier for you to meet the SNAP income and asset limits.

How can BenefitsCheckUp help me?

The website you're currently visiting is a free, private tool can help you learn more about SNAP. If you qualify for benefits, we'll give you more information on how to apply through your state's online SNAP application.

Whether you are interested in learning more about SNAP for yourself or for a person you help care for, we invite you to take the next step. Start by clicking here and then enter your ZIP code in the box on the left.

Sources

1. USDA. Characertistics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Housholds, Fiscal Year 2020. June 2022. Found on the internet at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/Characteristics2020.pdf

1. USDA. SNAP Eligibility. Frequently Asked Questions. Who is in a SNAP household? found on the internet at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility