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How do asset/resource limits for SNAP work in 2025 and which households are exempt?
Executive summary
Federal SNAP resource (asset) rules in FY2025 raised the asset limit for households with an elderly or disabled member to $4,500 and show a trend toward states using broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) so “most households” face no state asset test; federal and state practice on which assets count (vehicles, retirement accounts, bank accounts) varies and states may set or waive limits [1] [2] [3]. Reporting and state guidance show important exceptions — seniors and people with disabilities are treated differently, many households are categorically eligible and therefore exempt from state asset tests, and vehicle valuation rules are flexible at the state level [4] [2] [3].
1. How the federal asset limits look in 2025: a narrow but important cap
USDA materials and colas for FY2025 record an explicit federal asset ceiling for households that include someone age 60+ or a person with a disability of $4,500 (the FY2025 COLA memo cites this figure) while other federal tables and program explanations make clear resource and income standards are updated annually [1] [3]. Available sources do not give a single new universal federal dollar cap for all households in 2025; instead they emphasize the higher $4,500 threshold for elderly/disabled households and that states exercise flexibility on other resource rules [1] [3].
2. State flexibility and the rise of BBCE: most households often face no asset test
Policy trackers and state guides show many states have adopted broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), which relaxes or eliminates state asset limits so “most households are not subject to asset limits” in those states — Florida and several large states explicitly note BBCE means most SNAP households won’t face an asset test [5] [6] [7] [2]. Propel’s explainer echoes that states may choose not to impose an asset limit and that where states do set limits, those figures are presented at the state level [2].
3. What counts as an asset — the sticking points: vehicles and retirement accounts
Federal rules generally exclude certain hard-to-access assets, notably retirement accounts, and treat vehicles differently: most vehicles’ market value above a federal dollar threshold is counted toward resource limits, but states have broad latitude and many have adopted less restrictive vehicle rules [2] [4]. CBPP’s guide and the USDA materials note a common federal vehicle threshold figure used in guidance, but emphasize states often apply more generous exemptions [4] [2].
4. Who is exempt from the asset test — the headline groups
Sources list clear exemptions: households with members who are elderly (60+) or have disabilities receive special treatment under federal rules (including the $4,500 figure cited), and households that are categorically eligible because they receive other means-tested benefits (e.g., TANF, SSI) are typically not subject to state asset tests [3] [6] [8]. State manuals (for example Minnesota’s DHS materials) also show that only non-categorically eligible SNAP units are routinely subject to asset tests under state rules [9].
5. State-by-state variation — why exact answers require a local check
Multiple state guides and program pages warn that specifics differ: some states publish explicit asset thresholds (or higher program-specific caps such as Minnesota’s $10,000 figure for certain programs), others rely on BBCE to remove the limit for most recipients, and some maintain asset tests for non-categorically eligible households [9] [5] [6]. Propel’s state table and state eligibility pages make clear that if a state imposes its own cap, that figure matters for applicants in that state [2] [6].
6. Practical implications for applicants and common misconceptions
Explainers repeatedly warn people not to assume a small amount of savings makes them ineligible — bank accounts, retirement funds, and vehicle equity are treated differently, and BBCE in many states means assets won’t bar eligibility for most applicants [2] [5]. However, sources also show that some households (especially non-categorically eligible units) still must meet asset tests and that states publish different numeric thresholds, so applicants should consult their state SNAP office or state guidance [9] [6].
7. Limits of current reporting and where to look next
Available sources document the $4,500 figure for elderly/disabled households and document BBCE adoption, but they do not provide a single definitive national asset cap for all household types in 2025 beyond that elderly/disabled threshold; state-level documents and USDA pages updated annually are the primary places to verify exact numbers for a given state and month [1] [3] [2]. For a precise answer for your household, check your state SNAP website or the USDA SNAP eligibility page for the current resource limits and BBCE status [3] [2].