Use this calculator to get an estimate of your potential monthly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Please note that this is an estimate based on general federal guidelines and may not reflect specific state rules or all possible deductions. Actual benefits are determined by your local SNAP agency.
Number of people in your household.
Income from wages, salaries, or self-employment before taxes and deductions.
Income from sources like Social Security, unemployment, disability, or pensions.
No
Yes
This affects certain deductions and income limits.
Only enter if all household members are elderly or disabled. Must be over $35/month to count.
Costs for childcare or adult care necessary for work or training.
Legally obligated child support payments made to a non-household member.
Includes rent/mortgage, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and utility costs (electricity, gas, water, trash, phone).
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on general federal SNAP guidelines for the 48 contiguous states, using approximate 2024 figures. Actual eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by your state's SNAP agency and can vary based on specific state rules, additional deductions, and current Federal Poverty Level (FPL) updates. This tool is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a guarantee of benefits.
Understanding How SNAP Benefits Are Calculated
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, helps low-income individuals and families purchase nutritious food. While the program is federally funded, it is administered at the state level, meaning specific rules and benefit amounts can vary slightly by state.
Key Factors in SNAP Benefit Calculation:
Household Size: The number of people living together and purchasing and preparing food together. This is a primary factor in determining income limits and maximum benefit amounts.
Gross Income: This is your household's total income before any deductions. For most households, gross monthly income must be at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for their household size. Households with an elderly or disabled member may be exempt from this gross income test.
Net Income: This is your income after certain allowable deductions are applied. For most households, net monthly income must be at or below 100% of the FPL for their household size.
Deductions: These reduce your countable income, potentially increasing your benefits. Common deductions include:
Standard Deduction: A fixed amount based on household size.
Earned Income Deduction: 20% of your gross earned income is disregarded.
Dependent Care Deduction: Costs for childcare or adult care necessary for work, training, or education.
Medical Expense Deduction: For elderly (age 60+) or disabled household members, medical expenses over $35 per month can be deducted.
Child Support Deduction: Legally obligated child support payments made to a non-household member.
Excess Shelter Deduction: This is a significant deduction. If your monthly shelter costs (rent/mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities) exceed 50% of your income after other deductions, the excess amount can be deducted. For non-elderly/non-disabled households, this deduction is capped (e.g., around $672 in 2024). For households with an elderly or disabled member, there is no cap on the shelter deduction.
Maximum Allotment: There's a maximum benefit amount your household can receive based on its size. This amount is set annually by the USDA.
The Benefit Formula:
After applying all eligible deductions to determine your net income, the SNAP benefit amount is generally calculated as follows:
Maximum Allotment for Household Size - (Net Income * 0.30)
This formula assumes that a household should be able to spend 30% of its net income on food. If the calculated benefit is very low, some households (typically 1-2 person households) may receive a minimum benefit amount (e.g., $23).
Important Considerations:
State Variations: Each state has some flexibility in how it administers SNAP, so specific deduction amounts, income limits, and eligibility criteria can vary.
Resources Test: While not included in this calculator, most households must also meet a resources test (e.g., limits on bank accounts, cash, and certain assets). However, many households are exempt from this test, especially if they receive other forms of public assistance.
Work Requirements: Most able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) are subject to work requirements to receive SNAP benefits.
Application Process: To apply for SNAP, you must contact your state's SNAP agency. They will require documentation to verify your income, expenses, household size, and other eligibility factors.
This calculator provides a helpful starting point, but for precise information and to apply for benefits, always consult your local SNAP office or state agency website.
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function calculateSNAPBenefits() {
// Constants for 2024 (approximate for 48 contiguous states)
// Source: USDA FNS, various state SNAP guides. These are estimates.
var fpl130 = {
1: 1632, 2: 2214, 3: 2796, 4: 3379, 5: 3961, 6: 4543, 7: 5125, 8: 5708
};
var fpl100 = {
1: 1255, 2: 1703, 3: 2151, 4: 2599, 5: 3047, 6: 3495, 7: 3943, 8: 4391
};
var standardDeductions = {
1: 198, 2: 198, 3: 198, 4: 208, 5: 247, 6: 282
};
var maxAllotments = {
1: 291, 2: 535, 3: 766, 4: 973, 5: 1155, 6: 1386, 7: 1532, 8: 1751
};
var shelterCap = 672; // For non-elderly/disabled
var medicalDeductionThreshold = 35;
var minimumBenefit = 23; // For 1-2 person households
// Get input values
var householdSize = parseInt(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var grossEarnedIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossEarnedIncome").value);
var grossUnearnedIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossUnearnedIncome").value);
var isElderlyDisabled = document.getElementById("isElderlyDisabled").value === "yes";
var monthlyMedicalExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("monthlyMedicalExpenses").value);
var monthlyDependentCare = parseFloat(document.getElementById("monthlyDependentCare").value);
var monthlyChildSupportPaid = parseFloat(document.getElementById("monthlyChildSupportPaid").value);
var monthlyShelterCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("monthlyShelterCosts").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("snapResult");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1 ||
isNaN(grossEarnedIncome) || grossEarnedIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(grossUnearnedIncome) || grossUnearnedIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(monthlyMedicalExpenses) || monthlyMedicalExpenses < 0 ||
isNaN(monthlyDependentCare) || monthlyDependentCare < 0 ||
isNaN(monthlyChildSupportPaid) || monthlyChildSupportPaid < 0 ||
isNaN(monthlyShelterCosts) || monthlyShelterCosts 8
var effectiveHouseholdSize = householdSize > 8 ? 8 : householdSize;
// Calculate FPL thresholds
var currentFPL130 = fpl130[effectiveHouseholdSize];
if (householdSize > 8) {
currentFPL130 += (householdSize – 8) * 582; // Add $582 for each additional person over 8
}
var currentFPL100 = fpl100[effectiveHouseholdSize];
if (householdSize > 8) {
currentFPL100 += (householdSize – 8) * 448; // Add $448 for each additional person over 8
}
// Step 1: Calculate Total Gross Income
var totalGrossIncome = grossEarnedIncome + grossUnearnedIncome;
// Step 2: Gross Income Test
if (!isElderlyDisabled && totalGrossIncome > currentFPL130) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your household's gross income ($" + totalGrossIncome.toFixed(2) + ") exceeds the 130% Federal Poverty Level ($" + currentFPL130.toFixed(2) + ") for your household size. You are likely ineligible for SNAP benefits.";
return;
}
// Step 3: Calculate Deductions
var earnedIncomeDeduction = grossEarnedIncome * 0.20;
var currentStandardDeduction = standardDeductions[effectiveHouseholdSize];
if (householdSize > 6) { // Standard deduction caps at 6+ people
currentStandardDeduction = standardDeductions[6];
}
var medicalDeduction = 0;
if (isElderlyDisabled && monthlyMedicalExpenses > medicalDeductionThreshold) {
medicalDeduction = monthlyMedicalExpenses – medicalDeductionThreshold;
}
var dependentCareDeduction = monthlyDependentCare; // Up to actual expenses
var childSupportDeduction = monthlyChildSupportPaid; // Up to actual payments
// Step 4: Calculate Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) before shelter deduction
var agiBeforeShelter = totalGrossIncome – earnedIncomeDeduction – dependentCareDeduction – childSupportDeduction – medicalDeduction;
if (agiBeforeShelter 0) {
if (isElderlyDisabled) {
shelterDeduction = excessShelter; // No cap for elderly/disabled
} else {
shelterDeduction = Math.min(excessShelter, shelterCap); // Capped for others
}
}
// Step 6: Calculate Net Income
var netIncome = agiBeforeShelter – currentStandardDeduction – shelterDeduction;
if (netIncome currentFPL100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your household's net income ($" + netIncome.toFixed(2) + ") exceeds the 100% Federal Poverty Level ($" + currentFPL100.toFixed(2) + ") for your household size. You are likely ineligible for SNAP benefits.";
return;
}
// Step 8: Calculate Benefit Amount
var currentMaxAllotment = maxAllotments[effectiveHouseholdSize];
if (householdSize > 8) {
currentMaxAllotment += (householdSize – 8) * 219; // Add $219 for each additional person over 8
}
var estimatedBenefit = currentMaxAllotment – (netIncome * 0.30);
// Apply minimum benefit rule for 1-2 person households if eligible for any benefit
if (householdSize 0 && estimatedBenefit < minimumBenefit) {
estimatedBenefit = minimumBenefit;
} else if (estimatedBenefit < 0) {
estimatedBenefit = 0; // Cannot have negative benefits
}
// Display Results
var resultsHTML = "
Estimated Monthly SNAP Benefits:
";
if (estimatedBenefit > 0) {
resultsHTML += "Your estimated monthly SNAP benefit is: $" + estimatedBenefit.toFixed(2) + "";
} else {
resultsHTML += "Based on the information provided, your household is likely not eligible for SNAP benefits at this time.";
}
resultsHTML += "Detailed Calculation Summary:";
resultsHTML += "
";
resultsHTML += "
Household Size: " + householdSize + "
";
resultsHTML += "
Total Gross Monthly Income: $" + totalGrossIncome.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultsHTML += "
130% FPL for your household: $" + currentFPL130.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultsHTML += "
20% Earned Income Deduction: $" + earnedIncomeDeduction.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultsHTML += "
Dependent Care Deduction: $" + dependentCareDeduction.toFixed(2) + "
";
resultsHTML += "
Child Support Deduction: $" + childSupportDeduction.toFixed(2) + "
";
if (isElderlyDisabled) {
resultsHTML += "
Medical Expense Deduction (over $35): $" + medicalDeduction.toFixed(2) + "
";
}
resultsHTML += "
Adjusted Gross Income (before shelter): $" + agiBeforeShelter.toFixed(2) + "