SNAP by State is not a government website. We are an independent publisher. We are not part of, endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), its Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any state, county or city agency. We cannot take applications, see your case, or change your benefits.
Our results are estimates
Our calculators apply the federal SNAP rules in 7 CFR Part 273 with the figures USDA publishes each year, plus each state’s published utility allowances and income limits. They only know the numbers you type in. The amount you are actually approved for is decided by your state agency after an application, an interview and verification of your income and costs, and it can differ from our estimate for many reasons:
- Income counts differently than you might expect: some payments are excluded, and irregular income is averaged.
- States choose many options, such as which utility allowance applies, whether a standard medical deduction is used, and how child support is treated.
- Student, immigration, work-requirement and disqualification rules can make some household members ineligible.
- Your first month’s benefit is prorated from the date you apply.
Apply only through your state
To get SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid, apply through your state agency’s official website, by phone, by mail or in person. Every state page on this site links to the official portal. Applying is free. Nobody can charge you a fee to apply or guarantee approval, and no legitimate agency will ask for payment to “unlock” benefits. If someone does, report it to your state agency or the USDA Office of Inspector General.
Medicaid information
Medicaid income limits shown here are the published limits as a share of the federal poverty guidelines, converted to dollars. Eligibility also depends on age, pregnancy, disability, immigration status, how income is counted (MAGI rules, the 5% disregard) and, for some groups, assets. Only your state Medicaid agency or the Health Insurance Marketplace can decide coverage.
No advice
Nothing on this site is legal, financial or benefits advice. For help with your situation, contact your state or county SNAP office, your state Medicaid agency, a local legal aid office or a food bank.
Corrections
We check every figure against USDA, state and federal publications and date each page. If you find an error, please tell us through the contact page; we correct mistakes promptly.
Advertising
The site is funded by display advertising from Google AdSense. We do not accept payment from any program, lender, app or service, we carry no affiliate links, and advertisers have no influence on our calculators or pages.
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