Fact check: Can I still receive food stamps in 2025 if I have a job but am below the income limit?

1. Why a job usually doesn’t end SNAP eligibility — the income test that matters

SNAP eligibility hinges on income thresholds, not employment status: households generally must have gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line and net income after allowable deductions at or below 100% of the poverty line. These rules mean that someone working a low-wage job can still meet both gross and net income tests and qualify for benefits. SNAP also applies deductions (for housing, child care, medical expenses for elderly/disabled) that can reduce countable income and increase eligibility prospects. This framework is described in primers on SNAP eligibility and work requirements ^[1].

2. Work requirements that can change eligibility for certain adults

Federal SNAP includes work-related rules that can limit benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs): generally, ABAWDs aged 18–49 must work or participate in qualifying work activities at least 80 hours per month or meet an exemption to receive more than three months of benefits in a 36-month period. States can request waivers during high-unemployment periods or provide work programs to meet the requirement. These limits can affect employed ABAWDs if their work hours fall below the required threshold or if they do not participate in qualifying activities; primers on SNAP work requirements summarize these mechanics and recent debates ^[1].

3. Research perspective: SNAP’s role for workers with low incomes

Empirical studies show SNAP participation reduces food insecurity and improves health outcomes for low-income adults, including those who work but remain below income limits. Research from 2022 linked SNAP to improved health and reduced healthcare costs and argued that expanding eligibility and benefit levels would further improve outcomes. This body of work supports the idea that many working people with low incomes are among the intended beneficiaries of SNAP and that program access for working households has measurable public-health and economic implications ^[2].

4. Racial, ethnic, and pandemic-era disparities that matter for working households

Studies of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight that SNAP participation reduced food insecurity for some racial and ethnic groups but that disparities persisted. These findings indicate that having a job does not uniformly protect against food insecurity, and that program access, outreach, and state-level variations in administration can create uneven outcomes for working low-income adults. The pandemic-era analyses show that policy changes and emergency flexibilities affected participation patterns, underscoring the importance of looking beyond employment status to structural and demographic factors when assessing who receives benefits ^[3].

5. How state rules and waivers change the practical answer

States administer SNAP and can apply for ABAWD waivers or run work programs that alter the effective rules on the ground; therefore, your state’s implementation matters. A working person who is marginally below federal income limits might still face different reporting, documentation, or time-limit rules depending on state policy choices. Primers and historical analyses of the Food Stamp Program note the program’s federal-state partnership and how state decisions shape access for working households, so checking state guidance is essential to determine how national rules translate locally ^{[4] [1]}.

6. Practical steps for someone with a job who thinks they might qualify

To determine eligibility you should: verify gross and net household income against the 130%/100% poverty thresholds; account for allowable deductions (housing, child care, medical); check ABAWD rules and any state waivers; and consult your state SNAP office for application and reporting requirements. The analyses emphasize that program rules and public-health research converge on one point: employment alone is not a disqualifier, and working low-income households are often the target of SNAP supports ^{[1] [2]}.

7. Bottom line: employment matters less than income and specific program rules

The principal takeaway is that having a job does not automatically disqualify you from SNAP in 2025; income tests and work-rule exceptions are decisive. Research demonstrates SNAP’s benefits for low-income workers’ food security and health, while policy analyses warn that ABAWD rules and state-level choices create crucial variations. For a definitive, personalized determination, consult your state SNAP office or an official benefits calculator, and gather pay stubs and documentation to verify that your household income and deductions meet federal and state criteria ^{[1] [2] [4]}.