63. When do assets count?

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SNAP Advocacy Guide

By

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Reviewed

January 2024

Text

There is no asset test for most SNAP households. The majority of states including Massachusetts use a federal option, known as “categorical
eligibility,” which allows states to eliminate the SNAP asset test for most households¹^,².

There are four situations when DTA will ask about your assets:

Expedited benefits: If you need SNAP benefits quickly, you may qualify if you have less than $150 in countable income and less than
$100 in liquid assets (cash on hand, money in the bank) or if your shelter costs exceed your income and liquid assets³^,⁴. Having assets does not affect your ongoing SNAP, just your right to get expedited SNAP. See expedited (emergency) benefits eligibility about expedited SNAP.
Households with at least one member 60 or older or getting a disability benefit with gross income above 200% FPL: If you are age 60 or older or disabled and your gross income exceeds this level, DTA will ask about assets. Your assets must be below $4,250. Assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate other than your home, and some other limited assets. Assets do not include tax- deferred retirement or education accounts, your home or land it sits upon, a car or other excluded items. See 106 C.M.R.§363.130 for a list of countable assets
Income from assets: Any income you receive from an asset does count as income, including interest earned on savings and dividends you receive⁵. This also includes withdrawals from your assets on a regular basis (vs one time). If interest is paid quarterly or annually, DTA will average it out over the three, or twelve, months⁶. DTA may ask for bank statements, tax filings or other proof of the amount of interest or dividends you receive.
If you or a household member is disqualified from SNAP due to an Intentional Program Violation (IPV - fraud)⁷. Households with a member who has been disqualified due to an IPV must have less than $2,750 in assets.