Appendix C: Food Stamp Eligibility Criteria
Source: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/resources.htm
For 2005, the following food stamp eligibility rules applied to households in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
A. RESOURCES (RULES ON RESOURCE LIMITS)
Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account, or $3,000 in countable resources if at least one person is age 60 or older or is disabled. However, certain resources are not counted, such as a home and lot, the resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the resources of people who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (formerly AFDC), and most retirement (pension) plans.
A licensed vehicle is not counted if:
- It is used for income-producing purposes
- It is annually producing income consistent with its fair market value
- It is needed for long distance travel for work (other than daily commute)
- It is used as the home
- It is needed to transport a physically disabled household member
- It is needed to carry most of the household’s fuel or water
- The household has little equity in the vehicle (because of money owed on the vehicle, it would bring no more than $1,500 if sold)
- For the following licensed vehicles, the fair market value over $4,650 is counted:
- One per adult household member
- Any other vehicle a household member under 18 drives to work, school, job training, or to look for work
- For all other vehicles, the fair market value over $4,650 or the equity value, whichever is more, is counted as a resource.
B. INCOME (RULES ON INCOME LIMITS)
Households must meet income tests unless all members are receiving Title IV (TANF), SSI, or, in some places, general assistance.
Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Gross income means a household’s total, nonexcluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.
Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get food stamps.
| People in Household | Gross Monthly Income Limits |
Net Monthly Income Limits |
|---|---|---|
1 |
$1,037 |
$798 |
2 |
$1,390 |
$1,070 |
3 |
$1,744 |
$1,341 |
4 |
$2,097 |
$1,613 |
5 |
$2,450 |
$1,885 |
6 |
$2,803 |
$2,156 |
7 |
$3,156 |
$2,428 |
8 |
$3,509 |
$2,700 |
Each Additional Person |
+$354 |
+$272 |
Note:
Updated October 2005, effective through September 2006.
C. DEDUCTIONS (RULES ON ALLOWABLE DEDUCTIONS FROM INCOME)
Gross income means a household’s total, nonexcluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions. 1
- A 20% deduction from earned income
- A standard deduction of $134 for most households (higher for larger households, and in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam)
- A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education—but not more than $200 for each child under age 2 and not more than $175 for each other dependent
- Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members which are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else
- Legally owed child support payments
- Excess shelter costs that are more than half the household’s income after the other deductions. Allowable costs include the cost of fuel to heat and cook with, electricity, water, the basic fee for one telephone, rent or mortgage payments, and taxes on the home. The amount of the shelter deduction cannot be more than $400 unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled. (The limit is higher in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam.)
D. WORK AND ALIENS (RULES ON WORK, AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS)
With some exceptions, able-bodied adults between 16 and 60 must register for work, accept suitable employment, and take part in an employment and training program to which they are referred by the food stamp office. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in disqualification from the program. In addition, able-bodied adults between 18 and 50 who do not have any dependent children can get food stamps for only 3 months in a 36-month period if they do not work or participate in a workfare or employment and training program other than job search. This requirement is waived in some locations.
E. IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The 2002 Farm bill restores food stamp eligibility to most legal immigrants that:
- Have lived in the country five years
- Are receiving disability-related assistance or benefits, regardless of entry date
- Starting October 1, 2003, are children regardless of entry date
Certain non-citizens, such as those admitted for humanitarian reasons and those admitted for permanent residence, are also eligible for the program. Eligible household members can get food stamps even if there are other members of the household that are not eligible.
Non-citizens that are in the United States temporarily, such as students, are not eligible.
A number of states have their own programs to provide
benefits to immigrants who do not meet the regular Food Stamp Program
eligibility requirements.