Estimate your potential monthly Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits based on your household's income and expenses.
Estimated Monthly SNAP Benefit:
$0.00
This is an estimate. Actual benefits may vary.
Understanding the Oregon SNAP Benefit Calculation
The Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase food. The amount of benefit a household receives is determined by a complex formula that considers their income, certain allowable expenses, and household size. This calculator provides an estimation based on common factors used by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).
How the Calculation Works (Simplified):
The core of the SNAP calculation involves determining the household's "net income." Here's a general outline of the steps:
Gross Income: This is the total income of all household members before any deductions.
Earned Income Deduction: A portion (typically 20%) of earned income is deducted to account for work-related expenses.
Standard Deduction: A fixed amount is deducted, which varies by household size.
Dependent Care Deduction: Costs for caring for children or disabled adults (when necessary for work or training) are deducted.
Medical Expense Deduction: For households with members aged 60 or older or who are disabled, allowable medical expenses exceeding a certain threshold ($35) are deducted.
Excess Shelter Deduction: Most housing costs (rent/mortgage) and utility costs are considered. If these costs exceed 50% of the household's income after other deductions, a portion of the excess shelter costs can be deducted.
Net Income: After all applicable deductions, the remaining amount is the household's net income.
Benefit Calculation: The maximum benefit amount for a given household size is determined by ODHS. The household's expected contribution to their food costs is generally 30% of their net income. The SNAP benefit is then calculated as: Maximum Benefit – (30% of Net Income) = Estimated SNAP Benefit.
Key Factors in This Calculator:
Household Size: Larger households typically have higher maximum benefit amounts.
Gross Monthly Income: Higher income generally leads to lower benefits.
Housing Costs: Significant housing expenses can increase deductions, lowering net income and potentially increasing benefits due to the excess shelter deduction.
Utility Costs: Similar to housing, utilities can contribute to shelter costs.
Childcare & Medical Expenses: These specific deductions can significantly reduce net income for eligible households.
Important Disclaimers:
This calculator is for informational purposes only and is based on general SNAP eligibility rules. It does not account for all potential deductions or specific nuances in Oregon's SNAP policy. Factors like resources (savings, property), specific types of income (e.g., certain benefits are excluded), and unique household circumstances are not fully incorporated. For an accurate determination of your eligibility and benefit amount, please apply directly through the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) or contact them for official guidance.
Disclaimer: This calculator is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) or the federal government. It is an independent tool providing estimates.
function calculateSnapsBenefits() {
var householdSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var grossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossMonthlyIncome").value);
var rentOrMortgage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rentOrMortgage").value);
var utilities = parseFloat(document.getElementById("utilities").value);
var medicalExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("medicalExpenses").value);
var childcareExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("childcareExpenses").value);
// Basic validation for number inputs
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1) householdSize = 1;
if (isNaN(grossMonthlyIncome) || grossMonthlyIncome < 0) grossMonthlyIncome = 0;
if (isNaN(rentOrMortgage) || rentOrMortgage < 0) rentOrMortgage = 0;
if (isNaN(utilities) || utilities < 0) utilities = 0;
if (isNaN(medicalExpenses) || medicalExpenses < 0) medicalExpenses = 0;
if (isNaN(childcareExpenses) || childcareExpenses 10) {
maxBenefitForSize = maxBenefits[8] + (householdSize – 8) * (maxBenefits[10] – maxBenefits[8]) / 2; // Approximated increment
}
// — Deductions —
var earnedIncome = grossMonthlyIncome; // Assuming all income is earned for simplicity in this basic calculator
var earnedIncomeDeduction = earnedIncome * 0.20; // 20% deduction for earned income
var standardDeduction = 0;
if (householdSize === 1) standardDeduction = 177;
else if (householdSize === 2) standardDeduction = 177;
else if (householdSize === 3) standardDeduction = 187;
else if (householdSize === 4) standardDeduction = 200;
else if (householdSize === 5) standardDeduction = 220;
else if (householdSize >= 6) standardDeduction = 242;
// Note: Standard deductions change annually. These are illustrative.
var dependentCareDeduction = childcareExpenses;
var medicalExpenseDeduction = 0;
if (medicalExpenses > 35) {
medicalExpenseDeduction = medicalExpenses – 35;
}
// — Shelter Costs —
var shelterCosts = rentOrMortgage + utilities;
var incomeAfterOtherDeductions = grossMonthlyIncome – earnedIncomeDeduction – standardDeduction – dependentCareDeduction – medicalExpenseDeduction;
if (incomeAfterOtherDeductions shelterCostLimit) {
excessShelterDeduction = shelterCosts – shelterCostLimit;
}
// — Net Income —
var netIncome = incomeAfterOtherDeductions – excessShelterDeduction;
if (netIncome < 0) netIncome = 0;
// — Benefit Calculation —
var expectedContribution = netIncome * 0.30; // 30% of net income
var estimatedBenefit = maxBenefitForSize – expectedContribution;
if (estimatedBenefit < 0) {
estimatedBenefit = 0;
}
// Display the result, formatted as currency
var formattedBenefit = "$" + estimatedBenefit.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("estimatedBenefit").textContent = formattedBenefit;
}
// Initial calculation on page load (optional)
// window.onload = calculateSnapsBenefits;