SNAP is a federal assistance program that offers food help programs to families and individuals with lower incomes. SNAP updates its income eligibility limits every year to accommodate changes to the Federal Poverty Levels and the Cost of Living. For 2025, income limits assigned certainly qualify people for benefits, allowing access to aid food for millions.
Household income decides eligibility for SNAP. Gross monthly income is defined as a household’s income before any deductions while net monthly income is the income with deductions, like housing expenses and medical bills for any elderly or disabled families members. The SNAP program will set the gross income ceiling at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level and the net income ceiling at 100% of the Federal Poverty Level.
This means SNAP will serve households with gross or net income. Addressing the unique financial burdens of elderly, disabled households and SNAP members, households with elderly and disabled members have relaxed higher income and additional asset limits.
Key Income Limits by Household Size
Household size and location affect income limits. In the case of Alaska and Hawaii, income limits are higher as they are expensive places to live. For instance, in most states, a one-person household qualifies as long as net income is no more than $1,255 each month, while a four-person household earns $2,600 net monthly to qualify.
Limits on gross income are also higher; a one-person household can earn $1,632 each month and still qualify and a four-person household can earn $3,380. This ensures SNAP meets the needs of the assistive clients, while also considering the different sizes of the families.
Reporting Income Changes
SNAP applicants and recipients are to report all income changes to their SNAP office, which may affect ongoing eligibility. Considered income includes wages, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, child support, and more. For self-employed persons, each state has different ways to calculate self-employment income; in some states self-employment income business paid expenses or a portion of the income can be deducted.
When it comes to resource limits (savings, for example), these are not generally considered unless a household has a senior or disabled person. In those situations, resources must be under $4,500, not counting the primary home, but other resources like the primary home must be counted.
About the SNAP Income Limits
Q1. What is considered income for SNAP eligibility?
Income can be wages, profits from self-employment, unemployment benefits, child support, and any other funds received in the last 30 days.
Q2. Do asset limits affect SNAP qualification?
Yes, for most other households, there is no asset test, but households with a 60 or older disabled person must have assets under $3,000 to $4,500, which significantly impacts SNAP qualification.
Q3. Do income limits change frequently?
Every SNAP income limit changes once a year, from October 1 to September 30 of the following year, so it also reflects the change of inflation and the economy in general.
