Lesson 4
Deductions, and how your benefit is worked out
⏱ 3 min
Key points
- Deductions for work, child care, medical and housing costs lower your counted income.
- Your benefit is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income.
- The maximum is $808 a month for 3 people and $1,023 for 4, through September 2027.
- Keeping receipts for rent, utilities, child care and medical bills can raise your benefit.
SNAP expects a household to spend about 30% of its own money on food. Your benefit (called your allotment) fills the gap: it's the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income.
The deductions
Your state subtracts these from your gross income to find your net income. The amounts are for October 2026 to September 2027 in the 48 states and DC.
- 20% of any money you earn from work
- A standard deduction of $217 a month for 1 to 3 people, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, and $308 for 6 or more
- Child or dependent care you pay so you can work, train or go to school
- Medical costs over $35 a month for a member who is 60 or older or disabled, if insurance doesn't pay them
- Legally owed child support you pay, in some states
- Housing costs that are more than half your income after the other deductions. Rent or mortgage, property taxes, heating, electricity, water and a basic phone line count. This deduction is capped at $769 unless someone is 60 or older or disabled.
Since the 2025 law, internet bills no longer count as a housing cost. Some states use a set amount for utilities instead of your actual bills.
The maximum benefit
| People in household | Maximum per month |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
A worked example
A household of three has $1,000 a month left after deductions. Thirty percent of $1,000 is $300. The maximum for three people is $808, so the benefit is $808 minus $300, or $508 a month. Households of one or two people who qualify get at least $25.
The more you earn, the less SNAP you get, but because 20% of earnings is deducted, working more almost always leaves you with more money overall. Try your own numbers below.
Tool
Estimate your SNAP benefit
Follows USDA's calculation for October 2026 to September 2027. All amounts are per month. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Choose your state and enter your income to see an estimate.
An estimate only. Your state may use a set amount for utilities, count income differently, or have an asset limit. Only your state SNAP agency decides whether you qualify and how much you get.
Quick check
Which of these can raise your SNAP benefit?
Sources: SNAP eligibility, USDA; SNAP cost-of-living adjustments, USDA.