The Trump Administration has introduced new SNAP eligibility rules for the SNAP benefit in the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law in July 2025. If you receive SNAP benefits, you should check the new rules for the fiscal year 2026.
The new fiscal year began in October 2025, and households that received the SNAP benefit should check their eligibility, as some people might lose their eligibility. The US states administer the SNAP benefit, and states generally recertify the SNAP benefit every 6 or 12 months.
The current federal shutdown has also created problems for the recipients, as the US Department of Agriculture has announced that the November 2025 payout can be stopped if the shutdown continues.
Who qualifies for the SNAP under the new eligibility rules?
Under the new eligibility rules of the SNAP, the individuals must meet the three tests related to income, assets, and gross monthly income, such as:
- Gross Monthly Income:
- Your household income before the program deduction is applied should be below or at the Poverty line percentage, that is 130%. The poverty line is higher for bigger families than for small families.
- Assets: You must meet the asset limit, where a household without a member of age 60 or older or disability should have an asset value of $3000 or below, or a household with an elderly or disabled member, the asset value is $4500 or below.
- Net Income: The individual’s income or the household’s income after deduction should be below the poverty line.
If you are doubtful of your SNAP eligibility, you can contact your local human services office, and they will guide you in determining your eligibility for the benefit. You can find each state’s SNAP website and local number here.
Who is not eligible for the SNAP benefits?
SNAP benefits may not be available for some people, regardless of their income limit and assets. Here are the conditions that can make you ineligible for SNAP benefits:
- Individuals who are on strike or involved in a strike.
- The immigrants with lawful immigrant statuses cannot qualify for the benefit.
- People who do not have any documented immigrant status.
- People with drug-related felony or crime convictions in any US State cannot get the SNAP benefit.
- For certain students who attend college more than half of the time, you can check the full details on students’ eligibility here.
What are the new rules for the time limit category?
The individuals aged 18 to 64 with a non-disabled child or a dependent child (under age 14) are limited to receiving the SNAP benefit for three months only every three years unless they meet the following additional eligibility rules:
- You are volunteering, working, or enrolled in a training program for a minimum of 20 hours a week.
- You are enrolled in a qualifying education or workfare program.
Some individuals are exempted from the work or training requirements for SNAP benefits, such as:
- People who are physically or mentally unfit for the work;
- Pregnant Women
- Responsible for or caring for a child under 14
- Lives in the Waiver area (areas with high-unemployment)
- OR enrolled in school for the full-time
- American Indian or Alaska Native
The time limit category in the SNAP benefit is only subject to individuals of age between 18 and 64 with no dependent child; however, former foster youth, veterans, the homeless, or people of age under 18 are exempted from this provision.
What will be your SNAP benefit payment?
The net income and household size determine the SNAP benefit monthly payment amount. The federal agencies have set the SNAP benefit limit, though some states determine the benefit amount based on the demographics.
The family spent 30% of its net income on food. Based on this principle, the SNAP benefit for Fiscal Year 2026, as per household size, is mentioned below:
| Household Size | SNAP Maximum Monthly Benefit | Average Monthly Benefit |
| 01 | $298 | $204 |
| 02 | $546 | $370 |
| 03 | $785 | $588 |
| 04 | $994 | $715 |
| 05 | $1183 | $839 |
| 06 | $1421 | $954 |
| 07 | $1571 | $996 |
| 08 | $1789 | $1246 |
| For each additional person | $218+ | – |
You should understand that the family with no net income will receive the highest SNAP benefits. For instance, the family of three will receive the highest benefit of $785 when they have no income, and if they have income, 30% of the income will be reduced from the maximum benefit to calculate the amount.
The SNAP households qualify for the standard deduction, earnings deduction, and many others that you can check out and reduce your financial burden.
The SNAP benefits eligibility rules have been changed for FY 2026; you should check your eligibility and keep an eye on the official notices, as the federal shutdown’s impact on the payments will also be revealed shortly.
Disclaimer: This information covers the 2025 SNAP eligibility updates. For accurate income limits and qualification details, refer to official USDA or state SNAP resources.
