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Fact check: What are the income limits for food stamp eligibility in the US?
Executive Summary
The core claim that SNAP (food stamp) eligibility in the United States is determined by both gross and net monthly income limits is accurate: households must meet a gross income ceiling (typically 130% of the federal poverty level) and a net income ceiling (at or below the poverty line), with specific monthly dollar thresholds that vary by household size and state (notably for Alaska and Hawaii) [1] [2]. Recent source material for FY 2025 and the Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 period lists concrete gross and net monthly limits by household size and shows some variation among published tables and state guides, which explains apparent discrepancies in reported figures [3].
1. Why numbers diverge: multiple tables, multiple dates, and regional tweaks
The supplied sources produce several overlapping but not identical sets of monthly income limits because they draw on different tables, publication dates, and regional adjustments. One set of FY 2025 tables lists gross monthly income limits from $1,632 (one person) to $5,712 (eight persons) and net monthly income limits from $1,255 to $4,394 for the 48 contiguous states [3]. Another table, framed for the Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026 period, reconfirms that households must meet both gross and net tests and notes that these figures are updated annually [2]. The variation across tables reflects routine annual updates and the existence of separate listings for Alaska and Hawaii, which use higher thresholds to reflect cost differences, and occasional differences in whether figures are rounded or include categorical eligibility exceptions [3].
2. The statutory rule behind the dollars: 130% gross, 100% net, plus deductions
Underlying all the published dollar amounts is a consistent statutory framework: SNAP uses 130% of the federal poverty level as the gross income test and the poverty line as the net income test after allowable deductions (e.g., housing, child care, medical for elderly/disabled). Multiple guides emphasize that a household first fails or passes the gross test; if it qualifies under the gross test, the agency then applies deductions to compute net income and compares that to the net limit [1] [2]. The effect is that a household with income slightly above the gross threshold can still be eligible after deductions reduce countable income, and conversely, households that clear the gross test can still be denied if net income remains above the net limit. This procedural two-step is the reason tables list both gross and net thresholds for clarity [2] [1].
3. Concrete FY 2025 figures and the published benefit maxima that matter to households
The FY 2025 data tables and state guides list concrete monthly thresholds and benefit maximums. One consolidated table shows net limits ranging from $1,255 (one-person) to $4,394 (eight-person) and gross limits from $1,632 to $5,712 for the contiguous states, with Alaska and Hawaii listed separately at higher levels [3]. Complementary materials and state pages list the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amounts, which for example range from $298 for one person up to $1,789 for eight people in the cited guides [1] [4]. These benefit maxima are distinct from income eligibility thresholds: they determine the largest possible monthly allotment, not the income cutoff to qualify.
4. Where confusion commonly arises: state pages, updates, and categorical eligibility
Confusion in public summaries arises because some sources present gross limits, others present net limits, and still others present maximum benefit amounts; many state web pages also annotate categorical eligibility rules (e.g., automatic eligibility through participation in other means-tested programs, or exceptions for elderly/disabled households) that alter how thresholds are applied [2] [1]. Additionally, a November 2025 summary discussing revised rules highlights updates and policy shifts but does not always republish dollar figures, which can lead readers to see policy commentary without matching numeric tables and assume inconsistency where none exists [5]. The net effect is that accurate comparison requires checking the table’s date, jurisdiction (48 states vs Alaska/Hawaii), and whether the figure is a gross limit, net limit, or benefit maximum.
5. Bottom line for a household trying to assess eligibility today
To determine eligibility, households should first consult the most recent USDA or state SNAP page for the relevant fiscal year and state because the applicable thresholds are updated annually and vary by location; FY 2025 tables give concrete monthly gross and net cutoffs [3], and the official USDA eligibility page for Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 reiterates the two-test approach and updates [2]. Practically, if a household’s gross monthly income is at or below roughly 130% of the poverty guideline for their household size, they should proceed with an application since allowable deductions may reduce net income to below the poverty line and secure eligibility; for exact dollar cutoffs and benefit maxima consult the cited tables and your state SNAP office [1] [2].