How much food stamps will you get? Put in a month of income and housing costs and this SNAP calculator runs the same steps a caseworker does: the gross test, the deductions, the net test, then the benefit. It uses the USDA’s FY 2027 cost-of-living figures, which took effect October 1, 2026 and cover benefits through September 2027, so it’s the right calculator for late 2026 and most of 2027. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Numbers behind it
| People | Gross limit | Net limit | Max benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
The standard deduction is $217 for one to three people, $229 for four, $268 for five and $308 for six or more. The shelter deduction stops at $769 unless someone in the home is 60 or older or disabled, in which case there’s no cap. Those households also skip the gross test entirely, which is why a retiree with income above $1,729 can still be approved.
Where estimates usually go wrong
Medical bills are the big one. A 70 year old on $1,400 of Social Security with $1,100 of housing costs comes out at $103 a month. Add the $160 she pays for a Medigap premium and prescriptions and the same calculation gives $159. The form only knows about costs you report.
Utilities are the other. States don’t use your actual bills. They plug in a standard utility allowance, which is often larger than what people expect, so the housing figure on your notice may not match the number you typed here. Household size trips people up too: roommates who shop separately are separate households, but a spouse, or anyone under 22 living with a parent, always counts with you.
For a worked example with a larger household, see how much SNAP a family of 4 gets. The deduction rules themselves are in 7 CFR 273.9. You apply through your state, which USA.gov lists by state.
This is an estimate from federal rules, not a decision. Nine or more people, Alaska, Hawaii and state-specific rules aren’t covered.
Questions people type in
How much food stamps will I get with no income?
The maximum for your household size. With $0 of net income, nothing is subtracted, so one person gets $306 a month and two people get $562. You still have to meet the savings limit and your state’s other rules.
How much food stamps will I get if I make $1,200 a month?
It hangs on rent. A single person earning $1,200 in wages with no housing costs gets about $83. The same person paying $900 for rent and utilities gets about $241, because most of that rent comes off as a shelter deduction. Try both in the calculator and you’ll see the gap.
How much for 2 people, or a parent with 1 child?
A parent and one child are a two-person household. The limits are $2,345 gross and $1,804 net a month, and the most they can get is $562. A two-person household that qualifies never gets less than $25.
Is there a SNAP calculator for my state?
The federal formula above is what every state in the lower 48 starts from. What changes by state is the utility allowance, whether the gross limit is raised, and the asset test, so Texas, Florida, Ohio and California households can land a little above or below this estimate. Your state’s notice is the final number.