Food Stamp Income Guidelines

People must follow certain guidelines in order to qualify for food stamps. Food stamps are funded by the federal government. Nationally, the program is called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Anyone can apply for food stamps, but only households that meet the program's requirements receive them.On a federal level, people who want food stamps must qualify for them on the .

Food Stamps are available to low income households that meet certain eligibility requirements. The requirements are based on income, household size, assets and other factors as well. Food stamps help put food on the table for families that are struggling to make ends meet, and it gives them access to the proper nutrition. Families receive an EBT account which stands for electronic benefits transfer, an EBT card and a PIN number. A food stamp budget is calculated, and the money is then deposited at the beginning of each month for access.To determine food stamp eligibility, a household must first apply for the benefits. They are available to low income households, senior citizens, disabled people and more. The gross income for the household must be less than what is on the charted guidelines for each specific family size. For instance, a household of one person must have less than $1,174.00 gross income each month. A household with two people must have less than $1,579.00 per month, and a household with four people must have less than $2,389 per month. The chart changes if there are certain specific other criteria met like a disabled person living in the household or elderly disabled people as well. The process to gaining access to food stamps starts out with an application.While there are many factors that determine eligibility for food stamps, the process is not as complicated as it might sound. In many states, a person's assets are not as much of a determining factor anymore, if not at all. Some states require that a person not have additional assets exceeding $2,000 and they have guidelines outlining what these additional assets are. When determining eligibility, unemployment, SS benefits and any other assistance programs do count as income, but there are other guidelines which discount certain things as income as well.