Fact check: What are the eligibility requirements for SNAP benefits in the United States?

1. Why income limits are the headline — and what the numbers mean for households

Federal guidance directs that most households must have gross monthly income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line to pass the initial SNAP test, and a further net-income test at or below 100% of poverty after allowable deductions; this framework is the consistent baseline across federal and state materials ^{[1] [5]}. Recent 2025 updates translate those percentages into specific dollar numbers that vary by household size — for example, a single person’s gross monthly limit was reported as $1,580 in 2025, increasing by an estimated $557 per additional household member — reflecting annual adjustments tied to poverty guidelines and administrative updates ^[3]. Understanding both gross and net tests is essential, because deductions (housing, medical for elderly/disabled, child care) can significantly alter net income and benefit eligibility ^[5].

2. Asset tests and special rules for elderly or disabled households

SNAP traditionally applies resource caps — often $3,000 in countable resources for most households and $4,500 for those with a member age 60 or older or disabled — though many states now waive strict asset tests through policy options ^{[2] [1]}. State program pages and guides indicate that households with elderly or disabled members face different verification and allowable deduction rules, and some states exempt these households from the gross income test or raise resource thresholds to prevent unfair disqualification ^{[6] [2]}. Recent state-level guidance from Louisiana and New York underscores practical differences in documentation and appeals rights, signaling administrative discretion matters for real-world access ^{[6] [7]}.

3. Broad-based categorical eligibility — a policy lever that widens access

Many states use broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) to expand access by relaxing asset caps and altering gross/net calculations, effectively allowing households that receive certain state or federal cash benefits to qualify for SNAP without meeting traditional asset limits ^{[1] [5]}. Coverage of policy changes notes BBCE is a major reason why most households in some states no longer face a strict savings test, and it explains geographic variation in eligibility and caseloads ^{[7] [1]}. Advocates emphasize BBCE’s role in reducing administrative barriers, while fiscal conservatives often focus on cost and program integrity concerns, showing policy choices at the state level shape national statistics ^[5].

4. How benefit amounts are calculated and the role of the Thrifty Food Plan

SNAP benefit levels are calculated using a standardized maximum allotment based on household size and subtracting 30% of a household’s net income, reflecting an assumed family contribution toward food; the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan sets the baseline maximum benefit and is updated periodically ^[5]. Guides and federal materials explain that the final monthly allotment varies with net income after deductions and is therefore sensitive to allowable expenses reported during application, meaning minor changes in income or qualifying deductions can materially change benefit amounts ^{[5] [1]}. Public reporting on 2025 adjustments ties updates to inflation and changes in food cost metrics, which directly affect monthly allotments ^[3].

5. Operational dynamics — states, documentation, appeals, and program integrity

State SNAP offices require verification of income, residency, identity, and in some cases resources, and applicants retain the right to a fair hearing and appeal ^{[6] [8]}. Recent state pages signal variable procedures for interviews, document collection, and timelines, and highlight consequences for fraud and abuse that are enforced at both state and federal levels ^{[8] [6]}. News coverage from late October 2025 emphasizes operational risk from budgetary or shutdown events that could interrupt benefit distribution and affect roughly 42 million recipients in worst-case scenarios, underscoring how administrative continuity is as critical as eligibility rules ^[4].

6. Discrepancies in reporting and the importance of dates

Analyses and reporting differ on numeric specifics because poverty-line percentages translate to different dollar limits each year, and states implement waivers or BBCE differently; the sources span guidance pages and news articles dated between 2024 and October 2025, producing updates on thresholds and operational risks ^{[5] [2] [4]}. For example, a 2025 explainer lists concrete monthly dollar limits per household size, while federal guidance emphasizes percentage thresholds; both are accurate but serve different user needs — one practical and immediate, the other normative and rule-based ^{[3] [1]}. Tracking publication dates is essential because annual adjustments and short-term policy actions change who qualifies and how much they receive.

7. Bottom line for applicants and policymakers

For applicants, the essential facts are clear: meet the gross and net income tests, account for allowable deductions, and review state-specific asset rules or BBCE options to determine eligibility and likely benefit size ^{[1] [7]}. For policymakers, the choices that matter most are whether to adopt BBCE, how to set outreach and verification procedures, and how administrative disruptions are prevented, since these decisions shape access more than the federal baseline rules alone ^{[5] [4]}. Consistent, dated guidance from both federal and state sources helps applicants navigate eligibility, while further policy shifts will continue to change who is covered and how benefits are delivered ^{[2] [6]}.