How Much Do You Have to Make to Qualify for SNAP?

To see if you can get SNAP, Workforce Services looks at two main things: your income (how much money your household makes) and your resources (things you own).

How Your Income Is Counted

Workforce Services will add up all the money your household gets. Then, will deduct certain expenses you have.

After these deductions, your remaining income must be below a certain amount for you to get SNAP benefits.

Here are some examples of deductions:

  • 20% of the money you earn before taxes
  • A part of your rent or housing costs
  • Certain expenses you pay, like child support

Most households have to meet two income rules:

  • Gross Income Test: This is your household's total income each month before any taxes or deductions are taken out. Your gross income usually can't be more than 130% of the poverty level for your household size.
  • Net Income Test: This is your gross income minus the allowed deductions.

Important Note: If everyone in your household already gets benefits from programs like the Family Employment Program (FEP), SSI, or General Assistance, you might not need to meet these income tests. Also, if someone in your household is elderly (age 60 or older) or receives certain disability payments, your household only has to meet the Net Income Test.

You can click here to see a chart with the exact income limits.

How Your Resources Are Counted

Resources are things your household owns that have value, like money in bank accounts, cash, houses or land you own, and other personal items. Some of these things count toward a limit, and some do not.

For example, your car and any other motorized vehicles you own are usually not counted toward the resource limit.

If you have questions about what counts as a resource or how it affects your eligibility, you can ask an eligibility specialist. They can explain the rules to you.

Here are the general rules for how much your household can have in countable resources:

  • Most households can have up to $3,000 in countable resources (like money in the bank) and still qualify for SNAP.
  • Households that have at least one person who is age 60 or older or disabled can have up to $4,500 in countable resources.

Lottery or Gambling Winnings: If someone in your household wins a large amount of money from the lottery or gambling (a cash prize of $4,500 or more from a single game, before taxes), your household will immediately stop being eligible for SNAP. You won't be able to get SNAP again until your resources are below the limits.