The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest domestic nutrition assistance program. Eligible households receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer card they can use to buy food at most stores that sell groceries.

To receive SNAP benefits, families typically must complete an application form, submit supporting documentation, and participate in an interview with state eligibility workers. Most families who receive SNAP are required to recertify after 12 months to confirm their continued eligibility for SNAP benefits.

To be eligible for SNAP, households must meet both financial and nonfinancial requirements. Under federal policies, most households’ gross monthly income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level for their household size. Households that include someone age 60 or older or a person with a disability do not need to meet this requirement. For all households, net income after allowable deductions must be at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. In fiscal year 2025, the federal poverty level for a family with three members is $2,152. In addition, countable financial resources, such as money in bank accounts, must be less than $3,000 ($4,500 for households that include someone age 60 or older or who has a disability.)  

All but nine state agencies have adopted policies that expand SNAP eligibility to households that receive noncash benefits from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Many of these state agencies eliminated the resource test, and some also raised the gross income limit.  

Broad-based categorical eligibility policies for families with children

Gross Income 200 percent of poverty

No resource test

California

Louisiana

North Carolina

Colorado

Maryland

North Dakota

 Connecticut

Massachusetts

Oregon

Delaware

Michigan

Pennsylvania

District of Columbia

Minnesota

Virginia

Florida

Montana

Washington

Hawaii

Nevada

West Virginia

Kentucky

New Hampshire

Wisconsin

 

 New York*

 

Gross income 160 to 185 percent of poverty

No resource test

 Arizona

New Mexico

Iowa

New Jersey

Illinois

Rhode Island

Maine

Vermont

Higher resource test

 Nebraska ($25,000)

 Texas ($5,000)

Gross income 130 percent of poverty

No resource test

 Alabama

Oklahoma

Georgia

South Carolina

New York

Ohio

Higher resource test

 Idaho ($5,000)

 Indiana ($5,000)

No broad-based expanded eligibility

Alaska

Mississippi

Tennessee

Arkansas

Missouri

Utah

Kansas

South Dakota

Wyoming

*New York has a gross income limit of 200 percent of poverty for families with dependent care expenses.

Note: Some states have less restrictive policies for families that include someone who is older than age 60 or who has a disability.

Federal SNAP rules restrict SNAP eligibility based on citizenship and immigration status. All documented noncitizen children are eligible for SNAP. However, adults must meet certain conditions to be eligible for SNAP, including, among others (1) have lived lawfully in the United States for five years; (2) are blind or have a disability; (3) are a refugee; or (4) are active-duty military or a veteran.

More information about SNAP