If I Make $1,800 a Month, Can I Get Food Stamps?
Maybe: $1,800 a month in gross income is under the FY 2027 SNAP (food stamps) gross income limit of $2,345 for two people (130% of the poverty line; limits are higher for larger households), but over the $1,729 limit for one person. Whether you qualify depends on your household size, your deductions and your state: a household with a member who is 60 or older or disabled skips the gross test, and states that use broad-based categorical eligibility can set a higher gross limit.
The limits below are the USDA Food and Nutrition Service figures for the 48 states and DC for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. SNAP is the current name of the program once called food stamps. The same questions come up at $1,500, $1,800, $2,000, $2,500, $3,000 a month, so each one is worked out here.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Limits and sources checked October 31, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Check your monthly income
Your result
This income is over the SNAP limits used here, so the estimate is $0.
Gross test: not passed. $1,800 is over the federal limit of $1,729 for this household size.
Net test: net income is $1,223 against a limit of $1,330, so it is passed.
This uses the federal limits only. Choose your state above: some states use higher gross limits through broad-based categorical eligibility, and a household with a member 60 or older or disabled only has to meet the net income limit.
This quick check uses only what you entered. Utilities, medical, dependent care and child support are not included, and asset limits, work requirements and noncitizen rules are not checked. Use the full SNAP calculator for every deduction. Your state agency makes the decision.
SNAP gross and net income limits by household size
Monthly limits for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The last column shows which of the example incomes first pass the 130% gross test at that household size (an income that passes at a smaller size also passes at every larger one).
| Household size | Gross limit, 130% of poverty | Net limit, 100% of poverty | Example incomes that first pass the gross test at this size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $1,500 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $1,800, $2,000 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $2,500 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $3,000 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 | None of the examples |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 | None of the examples |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 | None of the examples |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 | None of the examples |
| Each additional member | +$616 | +$474 |
Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits; see the SNAP income limits page.
Worked examples: what each income looks like for the smallest household that passes
Each row takes the smallest household that passes the federal gross test at that income and runs it through the calculator on this site, assuming all of the income is wages and the household has no shelter, medical, dependent care or child support deductions. It is an estimate under the federal rules, not a decision, and a household with shelter costs above half of its income after other deductions, dependent care costs, or (with an elderly or disabled member) medical costs over $35 a month can have lower net income.
| Monthly gross income | Smallest household that passes the gross test | Gross limit at that size | Net income (net limit) | Estimated benefit | One person: gross limit $1,729 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | 1 | $1,729 | $983 ($1,330) | $25 a month | Under the limit |
| $1,800 | 2 | $2,345 | $1,223 ($1,804) | $195 a month | Over the limit |
| $2,000 | 2 | $2,345 | $1,383 ($1,804) | $147 a month | Over the limit |
| $2,500 | 3 | $2,960 | $1,783 ($2,277) | $273 a month | Over the limit |
| $3,000 | 4 | $3,575 | $2,171 ($2,750) | $371 a month | Over the limit |
How the gross and net income tests work
“In most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits described below or you are not eligible for SNAP and cannot receive benefits.”
“Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made.”
“Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.”
The federal rule behind this is in the regulation:
“Households which contain an elderly or disabled member shall meet the net income eligibility standards for SNAP. Households which do not contain an elderly or disabled member shall meet both the net income eligibility standards and the gross income eligibility standards for SNAP. Households which are categorically eligible as defined in § 273.2(j)(2) or 273.2(j)(4) do not have to meet either the gross or net income eligibility standards.”
The statute sets the gross test at 130% of the poverty line; the net test is at 100%. In FY 2027 that is $1,729 gross and $1,330 net a month for one person. Because deductions come off before the net test, a household with income above the net limit before deductions can still pass it.
States with a higher gross income limit (broad-based categorical eligibility)
“Most state agencies have adopted broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), which allows state agencies to align income and resource limits with their TANF-funded programs.”
“Even if you meet the BBCE income and resource limit in your state, you will still need to meet non-financial eligibility rules and have an income low enough to receive SNAP benefits.”
Among the states covered on this site, the state sources confirm a gross income limit above the federal 130% for households that qualify through categorical eligibility in the states below. Each state sets its own conditions, such as receiving a TANF-funded service, so open the state page before relying on a figure.
| State | Gross limit (percent of poverty) | One person | Four people | $1,800 a month for one person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 165% | $2,195 | $4,538 | Within the limit |
| North Carolina | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Florida | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Pennsylvania | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| California | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Kentucky | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Virginia | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Illinois | 165% (200% with an elderly or disabled member) | $2,195 | $4,538 | Within the limit |
| Michigan | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
| Oregon | 200% | $2,660 | $5,500 | Within the limit |
The rules in Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma use the federal 130% gross limit, as their state pages explain, so the federal table above applies there. Other covered states have a categorical eligibility route whose dollar limit the state sources do not confirm; their state pages say what they show.
If someone in the household is 60 or older or disabled
“A household with an elderly or disabled person only has to meet the net income limit, as described on the elderly and disabled page.”
“In SNAP, you are elderly if you are 60 years or older.”
“In SNAP, you are disabled if you meet ONE of the following criteria:”
Such a household skips the gross test but still has to pass the net test, so the number to compare is net income after deductions, including medical costs over $35 a month for the elderly or disabled member. The checker above skips the gross test when you tick the box.
What counts as income
“Household income shall mean all income from whatever source excluding only items specified in paragraph (c) of this section.”
“Only the following items shall be excluded from household income and no other income shall be excluded:”
“Money received in the form of a nonrecurring lump-sum payment, including, but not limited to, income tax refunds, rebates, or credits;”
The regulation lists the excluded items in full, and it applies in addition to the state options. Your state agency decides what counts for your household.
How to apply
“You must apply for SNAP in the state where you currently live.”
Start from your state's page for the agency, the application route and the state's own numbers: Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Louisiana, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Arizona, Oregon, Oklahoma. The SNAP income limits page has the federal tables, the FY 2026 figures and the full calculator.
Frequently asked questions
If I make $1,800 a month can I get food stamps?
Possibly. In the 48 states and DC, $1,800 a month in gross income is under the FY 2027 gross limit of $2,345 for a household of two people (limits are higher for larger households), and over the $1,729 limit for one person. For a household of two people with $1,800 a month in wages and no deductions other than the 20% earned income deduction and the standard deduction, net income is $1,223 (net limit $1,804) and the estimated benefit is $195 a month. Shelter costs above half of income after other deductions, dependent care costs, and medical costs over $35 for an elderly or disabled member can lower net income. Net income also has to be at or below the net limit for a household that is not categorically eligible, and your state agency decides who is in the household and what income counts.
Can a single person making $1,800 a month get food stamps?
Not under the federal gross limit alone, which is $1,729 a month for one person in FY 2027 (net limit $1,330). A single person could still qualify if they are 60 or older or disabled (the gross test is skipped), or live in a state whose categorical eligibility rule sets a higher gross limit. On this site, the state sources show a limit at or above $1,800 for one person in Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Kentucky, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, and Oregon for households that are categorically eligible; check the state page for the conditions.
If I make $2,000 a month can I get food stamps?
Possibly. $2,000 a month is under the FY 2027 federal gross limit of $2,345 for a household of two people (limits are higher for larger households), and over the $1,729 limit for one person. For a household of two people with $2,000 a month in wages and no deductions other than the 20% earned income deduction and the standard deduction, net income is $1,383 (net limit $1,804) and the estimated benefit is $147 a month. Shelter costs above half of income after other deductions, dependent care costs, and medical costs over $35 for an elderly or disabled member can lower net income. Net income also has to be at or below the net limit for a household that is not categorically eligible, and your state agency decides who is in the household and what income counts.
If I make $1,500 a month can I get food stamps?
Possibly. $1,500 a month is under the FY 2027 federal gross limit for a household of one person (limits are higher for larger households), starting at $1,729 for one person. For a household of one person with $1,500 a month in wages and no deductions other than the 20% earned income deduction and the standard deduction, net income is $983 (net limit $1,330) and the estimated benefit is $25 a month. Shelter costs above half of income after other deductions, dependent care costs, and medical costs over $35 for an elderly or disabled member can lower net income. A one or two person household that is eligible gets at least $25. Net income also has to be at or below the net limit for a household that is not categorically eligible, and your state agency decides who is in the household and what income counts.
Can I get food stamps if I make $2,500 or $3,000 a month?
It depends on household size. $2,500 a month is under the federal gross limit for three people (limits are higher for larger households) ($2,960 for three people), and $3,000 a month is under it for four people (limits are higher for larger households) ($3,575 for four people). With wages only and no other deductions, the estimated benefit is $273 a month at $2,500 for three people and $371 a month at $3,000 for four people. Smaller households over the gross limit may still qualify in a state with a higher categorical eligibility limit, or if a member is 60 or older or disabled.
Is the income amount before or after taxes?
The gross income test uses gross income, which FNS describes as "a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made." Use the amount before the deductions SNAP allows, such as the 20% earned income deduction, and not take-home pay. Some kinds of income are excluded entirely, so ask your state agency what counts.
Do I have to pass the gross income test if someone in my household is 60 or older or disabled?
No. FNS says a household with an elderly or disabled person only has to meet the net income limit ($1,330 a month for one person in FY 2027, $1,804 for two). Net income is gross income minus the allowed deductions, including medical costs over $35 a month for an elderly or disabled member.
How do I apply for food stamps?
You apply in the state where you currently live, through that state's SNAP agency, and the agency decides eligibility and the benefit. The state pages on this site list the agency and the application route for each state we cover.
Related pages
FedRateCalc is not a government site and cannot decide eligibility. Limits change each October 1 and states change their own rules; confirm with your state SNAP agency before relying on a figure.
Sources
All sources are government pages, read October 31, 2026, except the pages marked below, which were read from Internet Archive captures of the agency page on the date shown.
- USDA FNS, SNAP cost-of-living adjustments (FY 2027 income limits, allotments and deductions) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 7, 2026)
- USDA FNS, SNAP eligibility (income limits, deductions and worked example) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 20, 2026)
- USDA FNS, elderly and disabled special rules (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 20, 2026)
- 7 CFR 273.9, income and deductions (eCFR, current as of October 29, 2026)
- 7 CFR 273.10, determining household eligibility and benefit levels (eCFR, current as of October 29, 2026)
- 7 CFR 271.2, definitions (elderly or disabled member)
- 7 U.S.C. 2014, eligible households (U.S. Code, 2024 edition on govinfo; Cornell LII copy linked in the text)
- Texas Works Handbook C-120, SNAP income limits and deduction amounts (Revision 26-4, effective October 1, 2026)
- Texas Works Handbook B-470, categorically eligible households
- NC DHHS FNS manual section 360, determining benefit levels (Change #04-2026, October 1, 2026)
- NC DHHS FNS manual section 220, categorical eligibility (Change #04-2026)
- Florida ESS Program Policy Manual, Appendix A-1, food assistance income standards and deductions (effective October 1, 2026)
- Florida ESS Program Policy Manual chapter 2000, passage 2010.0201 (categorical eligibility)
- Pennsylvania SNAP Handbook 568 Appendix A, income limits (effective October 1, 2026)
- Pennsylvania SNAP Handbook 512.1, categorical eligibility (updated March 13, 2026)
- CDSS All County Information Notice I-40-26, CalFresh cost-of-living adjustments effective October 1, 2026 (September 10, 2026)
- CDSS All County Letter 14-56, CalFresh Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE)
- CDSS CalFresh Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE) fact sheet
- 921 KAR 3:030, SNAP application process (Legislative Research Commission)
- 921 KAR 3:035, SNAP certification process (Legislative Research Commission)
- Kentucky Division of Family Support Operation Manual, Volume 2 (SNAP), revised October 1, 2026 (OMTL 715) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 22, 2026)
- VDSS SNAP page, income eligibility standards and maximum allotments (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027)
- Virginia SNAP Manual (entire manual effective October 1, 2025, transmittal 36)
- IDHS Manual Release 26.26, October 2026 SNAP adjustments due to COLA (standards effective with October 2026 issuances) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 2, 2026)
- IDHS Policy Manual PM 05-07-00, categorically eligible SNAP households (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 31, 2025)
- IDHS Policy Manual PM 05-06-02, qualifying member benefits (read from the Internet Archive capture of January 16, 2026)
- MDHHS Reference Tables Manual RFT 250, SNAP income limits (effective October 1, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 23, 2026)
- MDHHS Bridges Eligibility Manual BEM 213, categorical eligibility (February 1, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of February 13, 2026)
- ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership Transmittal OEP-PT-26-033, FFY 2027 cost-of-living standards for SNAP (October 8, 2026)
- ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership Transmittal OEP-PT-26-005, 2026 federal poverty level income standard updates (SNAP BBCE limit)
- ODHS Oregon Programs Eligibility Notebook (OPEN), Chapter 2, edition dated April 2026