Estimate your potential Texas SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
This calculator provides an estimate based on common eligibility factors.
Your estimated SNAP benefit will appear here.
Understanding Texas SNAP Benefits and This Calculator
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas, administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), provides crucial food assistance to low-income individuals and families. The goal of SNAP is to help eligible households purchase nutritious food. The benefit amount is determined by a complex formula that considers household income, certain allowable expenses, and household size.
How SNAP Benefits are Calculated (Simplified)
The core of the SNAP benefit calculation involves determining a household's "net countable income." This is done by taking the household's gross monthly income and subtracting several allowable deductions. The remaining amount is then compared to a percentage of the federal poverty level for the household size.
Key Factors Considered:
Household Size: Larger households generally have higher maximum benefit amounts and different income eligibility standards.
Gross Monthly Income: This is the total income from all sources before any deductions or taxes are taken out.
Allowable Expenses (Deductions): These deductions reduce the amount of income that counts towards your eligibility and benefit calculation. Common deductions include:
Earned Income Deduction: A percentage of earned income is deducted.
Standard Deduction: A fixed amount based on household size.
Dependent Care Deduction: Costs for childcare (if needed for work) or care for a disabled adult.
Medical Expense Deduction: Out-of-pocket medical expenses exceeding a certain threshold for elderly or disabled household members.
Excess Shelter Deduction: Shelter costs (rent/mortgage + utilities) that exceed half of the household's net income after other deductions. This deduction is capped unless there is an elderly or disabled member.
The Calculator's Logic (General Approximation)
This calculator aims to provide a simplified estimate. It takes your inputs for household size, gross monthly income, and key expenses. It then applies standard deduction rules and approximates the impact of shelter costs and other specified expenses to estimate a potential SNAP benefit amount.
Important Considerations:
This is an ESTIMATE. Actual benefit amounts can vary based on specific HHSC policies, the exact timing of income and expenses, and other factors not captured here.
Eligibility also depends on resources (like bank accounts), citizenship status, and other requirements.
For an official determination, you must apply through the Texas HHSC.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a guarantee of eligibility or benefit amount.
function calculateSnapBenefits() {
var householdSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var grossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossMonthlyIncome").value);
var shelterCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("shelterCosts").value);
var utilityCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("utilityCosts").value);
var medicalExpensesOver60OrDisabled = parseFloat(document.getElementById("medicalExpensesOver60OrDisabled").value);
var childCareExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("childCareExpenses").value);
var dependentCareExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("dependentCareExpenses").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.classList.remove("error");
// Basic validation for required fields
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize <= 0 ||
isNaN(grossMonthlyIncome) || grossMonthlyIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(shelterCosts) || shelterCosts < 0 ||
isNaN(utilityCosts) || utilityCosts < 0 ||
isNaN(medicalExpensesOver60OrDisabled) || medicalExpensesOver60OrDisabled < 0 ||
isNaN(childCareExpenses) || childCareExpenses < 0 ||
isNaN(dependentCareExpenses) || dependentCareExpenses shelterCostThreshold) {
shelterDeduction = totalShelterCosts – shelterCostThreshold;
// Apply cap unless household has an elderly or disabled member
var elderlyOrDisabledMember = (medicalExpensesOver60OrDisabled > 0); // Simple proxy
if (!elderlyOrDisabledMember) {
// Find maximum shelter deduction (this varies, using a placeholder value)
// In reality, this is tied to income and household size. A simplified cap might be around $600-$700.
// For a general approximation, let's use a reasonable cap like $700.
var maxShelterDeduction = 700; // This value can change by state and year.
shelterDeduction = Math.min(shelterDeduction, maxShelterDeduction);
}
}
deductions += shelterDeduction;
finalNetIncome = Math.max(0, finalNetIncome – shelterDeduction); // This is the final income used for benefit calculation
// — Maximum Benefit Allotment (Based on household size – USDA data) —
// These are approximate maximums for FY2024 and can vary slightly.
var maxBenefit = 0;
if (householdSize === 1) maxBenefit = 291;
else if (householdSize === 2) maxBenefit = 535;
else if (householdSize === 3) maxBenefit = 766;
else if (householdSize === 4) maxBenefit = 973;
else if (householdSize === 5) maxBenefit = 1155;
else if (householdSize === 6) maxBenefit = 1300;
else if (householdSize === 7) maxBenefit = 1468;
else maxBenefit = 1669; // For 8 or more
// — Calculate Estimated Benefit —
// Benefit is generally 30% of net income, up to the maximum benefit.
// Benefit = Max Benefit – (0.30 * Net Income)
var estimatedBenefit = maxBenefit – (0.30 * finalNetIncome);
// Ensure benefit is not negative and not more than the maximum
estimatedBenefit = Math.max(0, estimatedBenefit);
estimatedBenefit = Math.min(estimatedBenefit, maxBenefit);
// Minimum Benefit (often $23 for eligible households)
var minimumBenefit = 23;
if (estimatedBenefit > 0 && estimatedBenefit < minimumBenefit) {
estimatedBenefit = minimumBenefit;
}
if (isNaN(estimatedBenefit) || estimatedBenefit < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Could not estimate. Please check inputs.";
resultDiv.classList.add("error");
} else {
// Format the result
resultDiv.innerHTML = "$" + estimatedBenefit.toFixed(2) + " / month (Estimate)";
}
}