Home » 2012 Food Stamp/ SNAP Advocacy Guide » SNAP Part III -- Financial eligibility

51. Are there gross and net income tests I must pass before I can get SNAP benefits?

Yes. Most SNAP applicants only need to pass a gross income test. Some households need to also pass a net income test. And some of these households, in limited circumstances, also need to pass the asset test.

The gross income tests

Gross income is your monthly income before any deductions for taxes, or any of the allowable deductions. There are currently TWO gross income tests that affect most households:

  • 200% federal poverty level test, which applies to:
    • families with children, pregnant women, and
    • households with an elder (age 60+) or person with disabilities.
  • 130% federal poverty level test, which applies to:

See 106 C.M.R. §§ 365.180, 364.976, 364.950.

These are the monthly gross income levels (as of October 1, 2011) by household size, also included in Appendix B: Income and Benefits Standards, Charts 2 and 3.

 
Gross Income Test
200% FPL
Gross Income Test
130% FPL

 
1
 $1,815 $1,180
2
 $2,452 $1,594
3
 $3,088 $2,008
4
 $3,725 $ 2,422
5
 $4,362 $ 2,836
6
 $4,998 $3,249

If a household which has elders or persons with disabilities has income above the 200% gross income test, the household must meet the net income test and asset test. All other households above 200% gross income (or 130% gross income if no children and not pregnant) are simply ineligible.

If a member of a household pays legally obligated child support, the child support is not counted in the gross income test for the household. 106 C.M.R. § 363.230(O). See Question 54 (What is the child support deduction?).

Net income test

Net income is what's left after all the allowable deductions under the SNAP rules, including the 20% earnings deduction, standard household deduction, dependent care expenses, and medical expenses for elder/disabled persons, child support paid out, and the shelter deduction. See Question 52 (What deductions are allowed against my income?).

The net income test applies to the following households:

  • Households with persons ages 18 to 60, not disabled and not living with minor children.
  • Households with elders or persons with disabilities whose gross income is above 200% of poverty level, but who meet the asset test.
  • Households with a sanctioned member (work sanction, IPV, TAFDC monthly reporting failure), and who also meet the asset test. The sanctioned member is not included in the household size to determine net income. 106 C.M.R. § 363.110. See Question 42 (When do assets count?).

Summary of the gross and net income tests, and the asset test rules:

 
Assets
Test
Gross Income
Test
Net (100% FPL)
Income Test
Family with children,
pregnant woman		 NO 200% FPL NO
Elder/disabled household NO 200% FPL NO*
Elder/disabled household—
gross income > 200% FPL		 YES None YES
Persons age 18-60,
no kids, no disabilities		 NO 130% FPL YES
Household under sanction
(work, IPV, sanctioned member)		 YES 130% FPL YES

* See Advocacy Reminder below. Application of the net income test to these households violates federal categorical eligibility requirements.

Advocacy Reminders

  • The 200% gross income test, elimination of the net income test for some households, and elimination of the asset test are part of the "categorical eligibility" options that states are allowed to use in order to reach more low-income households.
  • Households with elders or persons with disabilities which are under 200% FPL, even if income is above the net income test, can receive at least the minimum $16 SNAP benefit, in accordance with 106 C.M.R. § 364.600(A).
  • In special situations, an individual who is both elderly and has a disability but lives with others can get her or his own SNAP even if she cannot purchase or prepare food separately. To be eligible for this special status, the gross income of the rest of the household, excluding the elder or person with a disability (and his or her spouse, children age 21 or younger, and certain minors), must be less than 165% of the poverty level. 106 C.M.R. §§ 361.200(B), 364.975. See Question 18 (What if I am elderly or disabled and live with other people but I cannot buy and cook my own food?) for more details on these special situations.
Additional Policy Guidance on Financial Eligibility Tests
  • Correction of SNAP policy to ensure that one and two person households of elders or persons with disabilities which have gross income below 200% FPL receive the “minimum benefit.” These households typically receive Social Security and are “categorically eligible” but were erroneously excluded from the minimum SNAP benefit. F.O. Memo 2011-36 (July 21, 2011).
  • DTA guidance on the implementation of expanded categorical eligibility rules which eliminated the asset test and clarified the gross income tests. DTA Field Operations Memo 2008-27 (May 30, 2008).
  • Elders who receive disability-based benefits (SSI, RSDI, VA disability) do not need to meet the gross income test. Transitions Hotline Q&A (Sept. 2008).
  • USDA Guidance re "Categorical Eligibility Questions and Answers," December 15, 2009.