For federal fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026), a one-person household can gross up to $1,729 a month and still qualify for SNAP; a family of four can gross up to $3,575 a month. Those are the federal baseline gross-income limits — your actual state limit may be higher, since most states raise the effective ceiling through a policy called broad-based categorical eligibility.
The Two-Test System
SNAP eligibility runs on two separate income tests, and most households have to pass both:
- Gross income test: your total income before any deductions must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level.
- Net income test: your income after allowable deductions (standard deduction, earned income deduction, dependent care, medical expenses for elderly/disabled members, and shelter costs) must be at or below 100% of the federal poverty level.
If every member of your household is elderly or disabled, you only have to pass the net income test — the gross income test is waived.
2026 Federal Gross Income Limits (130% FPL)
| Household Size | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $20,748 |
| 2 | $2,344 | $28,128 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $35,520 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $42,900 |
| 5 | $4,190 | $50,280 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $57,672 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $65,052 |
| 8 | $6,036 | $72,432 |
| Each additional member | +$615/mo | +$7,380/yr |
2026 Federal Net Income Limits (100% FPL)
| Household Size | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330 | $15,960 |
| 2 | $1,803 | $21,636 |
| 3 | $2,277 | $27,324 |
| 4 | $2,750 | $33,000 |
| 5 | $3,223 | $38,676 |
| 6 | $3,697 | $44,364 |
| 7 | $4,170 | $50,040 |
| 8 | $4,643 | $55,716 |
| Each additional member | +$473/mo | — |
Why Your State’s Real Limit Might Be Higher
About 45 states and territories use broad-based categorical eligibility, which raises the effective gross-income ceiling — in roughly 28 of those states, the limit reaches 200% of the federal poverty level instead of 130%. This means a family of four could qualify with gross income well above the $3,575 federal baseline, depending on the state. There’s no way to know your exact state limit without checking your state SNAP agency’s page directly — the federal table above is the floor, not a guarantee of what you’ll actually be held to.
Assets Still Matter (In Some States)
States using broad-based categorical eligibility typically also waive the separate SNAP asset test. States that don’t use it apply a resource limit — generally $3,000 for most households, or $4,500 if a household member is elderly or disabled — counting bank accounts and similar liquid resources, but not your home or (usually) one vehicle.
FAQ
Do these limits apply the same in every state?
The federal numbers are the floor. Alaska and Hawaii use higher limits than the rest of the country because of their higher cost of living, and many other states raise their effective limit further through broad-based categorical eligibility.
What counts as income for these tests?
Wages, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, and most other regular payments count. Certain things — like federal tax refunds and most one-time payments — generally don’t.
If my gross income is over the limit, am I automatically denied?
If your household includes an elderly or disabled member, you may still qualify by passing only the net income test, even with gross income above the 130% threshold.
Do these limits change every year?
Yes, they’re adjusted annually each October 1 based on updated federal poverty guidelines, so a household that didn’t qualify last year could qualify this year even with the same income.
If your income is low enough that you need help immediately, our guide to expedited SNAP benefits within 7 days covers the faster path, and if you’re already receiving SNAP, the 2026 work requirement rules explain what else you need to do to keep your benefits at recertification.