1 Person
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Yes
Estimated Monthly Benefit:
$0.00
*This tool provides an estimate based on federal 2023-2024 SNAP guidelines. Actual eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by your state's agency. State-specific rules, such as Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), may vary results.
How SNAP Benefits are Calculated
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, uses a specific mathematical formula to determine how much assistance a household needs. The process involves checking your gross income, calculating your net income by subtracting allowed deductions, and then applying the "30% rule."
The 30% Rule
SNAP expects households to spend 30% of their net income on food. The actual benefit you receive is the difference between the Maximum Allotment for your household size and 30% of your net income. For example, if the maximum benefit for a 1-person household is $291 and your calculated net income is $500, the program expects you to spend $150 (30% of 500) on food. Your benefit would be $291 – $150 = $141.
Key Eligibility Factors
Household Size: The number of people who live together and purchase/prepare meals together.
Gross Income: Your total income before any taxes or deductions are taken out. Most households must be under 130% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Net Income: Your gross income minus deductions like the standard deduction, earned income deduction (20%), child care expenses, and excess shelter costs.
Deductions: Households with elderly (60+) or disabled members may have higher deduction limits and different asset tests.
Typical Benefit Examples (2024)
A family of four with no income would receive the maximum allotment of $973 per month. However, a family of four earning $2,000 in gross income might see significant deductions for rent and utilities, bringing their net income down to $800. In that case, their benefit might be roughly $733 ($973 minus 30% of $800).
function calculateSNAP() {
// 2023-2024 SNAP Federal Guidelines (Monthly)
var maxBenefits = { 1: 291, 2: 535, 3: 766, 4: 973, 5: 1155, 6: 1386, 7: 1532, 8: 1751 };
var grossLimits = { 1: 1580, 2: 2137, 3: 2694, 4: 3250, 5: 3807, 6: 4364, 7: 4921, 8: 5478 };
var standardDeductions = { 1: 198, 2: 198, 3: 198, 4: 208, 5: 244, 6: 279, 7: 279, 8: 279 };
var shelterCap = 672;
// Get Inputs
var size = parseInt(document.getElementById('hhSize').value);
var gross = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossIncome').value) || 0;
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shelterCost').value) || 0;
var utils = parseFloat(document.getElementById('utilityCost').value) || 0;
var childCare = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dependentCare').value) || 0;
var isElderly = document.getElementById('isElderly').value === 'yes';
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('snap-result-area');
var amountSpan = document.getElementById('snap-final-amount');
var statusMsg = document.getElementById('snap-status-msg');
// 1. Gross Income Test (simplified)
// Note: Some states have higher limits (BBCE), but we use federal 130% baseline.
if (!isElderly && gross > grossLimits[size]) {
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
amountSpan.innerText = "$0.00";
statusMsg.innerText = "Your gross income exceeds the standard federal limit for a household of " + size + ". You may not be eligible unless special state rules apply.";
statusMsg.style.color = "#e74c3c";
return;
}
// 2. Calculate Net Income
// Step A: 20% Earned Income Deduction
var adjustedIncome = gross * 0.80;
// Step B: Standard Deduction
adjustedIncome -= standardDeductions[size];
// Step C: Dependent Care
adjustedIncome -= childCare;
if (adjustedIncome < 0) adjustedIncome = 0;
// Step D: Shelter Deduction
var totalShelter = rent + utils;
var excessShelter = totalShelter – (adjustedIncome * 0.50);
if (excessShelter shelterCap) {
excessShelter = shelterCap;
}
var netIncome = adjustedIncome – excessShelter;
if (netIncome < 0) netIncome = 0;
// 3. Final Calculation
var maxAllowed = maxBenefits[size];
var thirtyPercentNet = netIncome * 0.30;
var finalBenefit = maxAllowed – thirtyPercentNet;
// Minimum benefit for 1-2 person households
if (finalBenefit < 23 && (size === 1 || size === 2) && netIncome <= (grossLimits[size]/1.3)) {
finalBenefit = 23;
}
if (finalBenefit < 0) finalBenefit = 0;
// Output
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
amountSpan.innerText = "$" + Math.round(finalBenefit).toLocaleString();
statusMsg.innerText = "Based on the information provided, this is your estimated monthly SNAP allotment.";
statusMsg.style.color = "#27ae60";
}