Total number of people living and buying food together.
Income before taxes (wages, Social Security, etc.).
Yes (Standard Utility Allowance)
No (Include utilities in rent above)
How the NC Food Stamp (FNS) Calculator Works
In North Carolina, the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program helps low-income families supplement their grocery budget. Eligibility is primarily based on household size and income. Our calculator uses the 2023-2024 federal and state guidelines to provide an estimate of your potential monthly allotment.
NC Gross Income Limits (200% FPL)
Most North Carolina households must have a gross income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to qualify. If your household includes someone who is elderly (60+) or disabled, these limits may be different, or you may be subject to a net income test instead.
1 Person: $2,430
2 People: $3,287
3 People: $4,143
4 People: $5,000
Key Deductions Explained
The calculation doesn't just look at your raw income. To determine your "Net Income," the state allows several deductions:
Standard Deduction: A set amount subtracted from everyone's income based on household size.
Earned Income Deduction: 20% of your gross earned wages is ignored to account for work-related expenses.
Shelter Deduction: If your housing costs (plus utilities) exceed 50% of your adjusted income, a portion of that cost is deducted.
SUA (Standard Utility Allowance): In NC, if you pay heating and cooling costs, you receive a standard credit (currently around $614) rather than using actual bill amounts.
Example Calculation
Consider a family of 3 in Raleigh with a gross income of $2,500 and rent of $1,000.
After applying the standard deduction ($198) and the earned income deduction ($500), and calculating the shelter excess, their net income might be reduced significantly. Their benefit would be the maximum allotment for 3 ($766) minus 30% of their calculated net income.
Note: This tool is for estimation purposes only. Only the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) can officially determine your eligibility and benefit amount.
function calculateFNS() {
var hhSize = parseInt(document.getElementById('hhSize').value) || 1;
var grossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossIncome').value) || 0;
var shelterCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shelterCost').value) || 0;
var sua = parseFloat(document.getElementById('suaType').value) || 0;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('fnsResult');
// 2023-2024 NC FNS Parameters
var grossLimits = [0, 2430, 3287, 4143, 5000, 5857, 6713, 7570, 8427];
var standardDeductions = [0, 198, 198, 198, 208, 244, 279, 279, 279];
var maxAllotments = [0, 291, 535, 766, 973, 1155, 1386, 1532, 1751];
var limit = hhSize > 8 ? 8427 + ((hhSize – 8) * 857) : grossLimits[hhSize];
var maxBenefit = hhSize > 8 ? 1751 + ((hhSize – 8) * 219) : maxAllotments[hhSize];
var stdDed = hhSize > 8 ? 279 : standardDeductions[hhSize];
// 1. Gross Income Test
if (grossIncome > limit) {
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#f8d7da';
resultDiv.style.color = '#721c24';
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Status: Ineligible. Your monthly gross income of $' + grossIncome.toFixed(2) + ' exceeds the NC limit of $' + limit.toFixed(2) + ' for a household of ' + hhSize + '.';
return;
}
// 2. Calculate Adjusted Income
var earnedIncomeDed = grossIncome * 0.20;
var adjustedIncome = grossIncome – earnedIncomeDed – stdDed;
if (adjustedIncome < 0) adjustedIncome = 0;
// 3. Shelter Deduction
var totalShelterExpenses = shelterCost + sua;
var halfAdjusted = adjustedIncome * 0.50;
var shelterExcess = totalShelterExpenses – halfAdjusted;
if (shelterExcess 672) shelterExcess = 672;
// 4. Net Income
var netIncome = adjustedIncome – shelterExcess;
if (netIncome < 0) netIncome = 0;
// 5. Final Allotment (Max Allotment – 30% of Net Income)
var deduction = netIncome * 0.30;
var estimatedBenefit = maxBenefit – deduction;
if (estimatedBenefit < 23 && hhSize <= 2) {
estimatedBenefit = 23; // Minimum benefit for 1-2 person households
}
if (estimatedBenefit <= 0) {
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#fff3cd';
resultDiv.style.color = '#856404';
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Estimated Status: Eligible, but $0 benefit. Based on your income and expenses, your calculated net income is too high to receive a monthly allotment, though you may still qualify for other FNS services.';
} else {
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#d4edda';
resultDiv.style.color = '#155724';
resultDiv.innerHTML = '
' +
'Your household potentially qualifies for FNS in North Carolina. This is an estimate based on a standard deduction of $' + stdDed + ' and a maximum allotment of $' + maxBenefit + '.' +
'To receive these benefits, you must apply through the NC ePASS portal or your local DSS office.';
}
}