A food stamp household with someone 60 or older, or someone with a disability, only has to pass the net income test, and for one person that limit is $1,330 a month. USDA says the figure applies from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the federal fiscal year 2027.
Most households face two income tests, gross and net. The Food and Nutrition Service’s eligibility page, updated October 1, 2026, says it plainly: "A household with an elderly or disabled person only has to meet the net income limit." That skips the higher gross limit, which is $1,729 a month for one person.
The practical question for a retiree or a person on disability benefits is whether the household fits under $1,330 after deductions, not before them. Net income is what remains once allowed costs such as medical bills and housing are subtracted from monthly income, so a household whose paycheck or Social Security check looks too high may still land under the line.
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What the net income limits are by household size
The limits are set at 100 percent of the federal poverty level and cover the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. For the rest of the country, USDA’s table shows these monthly net income caps:
- One person: $1,330
- Two people: $1,804
- Three people: $2,277
- Four people: $2,750
Other households must also pass the gross income test, which USDA sets at $1,729 for one person, $2,345 for two, $2,960 for three and $3,575 for four. A household with a member who is 60 or older or disabled does not have to meet those gross figures.
The net limits are ceilings, not guaranteed benefit amounts. The benefit itself depends on income and expenses, and USDA lists maximum monthly allotments of $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three and $1,023 for four in the 48 states and D.C.
Which deductions bring income down?
USDA’s page lists several deductions that turn gross income into net income. Every household gets a standard deduction, which is $217 for households of one to three people. Households with an elderly or disabled member can also deduct unreimbursed medical expenses above $35 for the month, for that member.
Housing is where the rules split. For most households the shelter deduction is capped at $769. For a household with an elderly or disabled member, the page says, all shelter costs over half of the household’s income count, with no cap.
How much can a household have in savings?
Savings and other countable resources have their own ceiling. USDA says households may have $3,000 in countable resources, such as cash or money in a bank account, and $4,750 if at least one member is 60 or older or has a disability. The page says these resource limits are updated each year.
That $1,750 difference matters to retirees who keep a modest cushion in checking or savings. A household at $4,000, for example, would be over the general limit but under the limit for a household with someone 60 or older.
Do the numbers change next year?
They are set for one federal fiscal year at a time. The page covers October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, and USDA publishes new figures each October. A household that falls just above the line this year, or just below it, may see the answer change at the next recertification. USDA’s main SNAP page links to the application route in each state, and the eligibility table is where the fiscal year 2028 numbers would appear.
Wondering if a household of 60-plus clears the $1,330 line?
A household that guesses its net income wrong can skip an application it would have qualified for, or leave out a medical bill or shelter cost that would have lowered the number. For someone on a fixed income, one overlooked deduction can be the difference between a denial and approval.
The SNAP & Medicaid Renewal Organizer covers the senior rules most people miss in its Part 3, with 51 state packs and a renewal and reporting calendar, plus a renewal document checklist, so a household can gather its medical and shelter paperwork before the interview.
Get the senior deductions chapter and state pack in the Renewal Organizer →
More Financial Reading
- 21 Ways to Stretch a $2,087 Social Security Check
- 15 Places to Find Your Share of the $4.25 Billion States Give Back
- 15 Steps to Stop the Scams That Took $7.7 Billion From Seniors
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
