64. Is there a gross income test for SNAP?

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SNAP Advocacy Guide

By

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Reviewed

January 2024

Text

Yes! Most SNAP households need to have gross income under 200% of the federal poverty level. Gross income is your monthly income before any taxes or deductions¹^,².

Household Size	Gross Income Test 200% FPL*
1	$2,510
2	$3,407
3	$4,303
4	$5,200
5	$6,097
6	$6,993
7	$7,890
8	$8,787
Each additional person	$897

*These numbers are effective as of February 1, 2024. For the most up to date numbers, go to the SNAP Calculation Worksheet on Mass Legal Services.

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Households with members age 60+ or disabled

There is no gross income test for households that include a member who is 60 or older or who gets a disability-based benefits. However, to qualify for SNAP, the household must meet the asset test and the net income test. See counting assets. These households must also have very high shelter and/or medical expenses (very low net income) to qualify for any SNAP benefit. There is no minimum SNAP benefit for 1 or 2 person households in this situation.

Households with a member disqualified due to an IPV

If you are a member of a SNAP household where an adult member is disqualified due to an IPV (fraud), the SNAP rules use a lower 130% FPL gross income threshold. In the SNAP math, the disqualified member is not included in the SNAP household size for the remaining members.
However, if the disqualified member has income, their income is included⁵. See counting income of someone not eligible in your SNAP household. In this situation the household is also subject to the asset test. See counting assets. Appendix B includes the charts for the 130% gross income test.

See 106 C.M.R. §§365.180, 364.976, 364.950.

Snapshot of the SNAP income and asset tests

Circumstance	SNAP Asset Test	Gross Income Test
Family with children, pregnant person	No	200% FPL
Persons age 18-60, no kids, not disabled	No	200% FPL
Household with member 60+ or disabled, gross income < 200% FPL	No	No
Household with member 60+ or disabled, gross income > 200% FPL**	Yes	No
Household member disqualified due to IPV	Yes	130% FPL

** Note

Household’s net income must be low enough to qualify for a benefit. Households above 200% FPL gross income do not qualify for the $23 minimum benefit.

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1 and 2 person households

Households that Pay Child Support

Households with members age 60+ or disabled

There is no gross income test for households that include a member who is 60 or older or who gets a disability-based benefits. However, to qualify for SNAP, the household must meet the asset test and the net income test. See counting assets. These households must also have very high shelter and/or medical expenses (very low net income) to qualify for any SNAP benefit. There is no minimum SNAP benefit for 1 or 2 person households in this situation.

Households with a member disqualified due to an IPV

If you are a member of a SNAP household where an adult member is disqualified due to an IPV (fraud), the SNAP rules use a lower 130% FPL gross income threshold. In the SNAP math, the disqualified member is not included in the SNAP household size for the remaining members.
However, if the disqualified member has income, their income is included⁵. See counting income of someone not eligible in your SNAP household. In this situation the household is also subject to the asset test. See counting assets. Appendix B includes the charts for the 130% gross income test.

See 106 C.M.R. §§365.180, 364.976, 364.950.

Snapshot of the SNAP income and asset tests

Circumstance	SNAP Asset Test	Gross Income Test
Family with children, pregnant person	No	200% FPL
Persons age 18-60, no kids, not disabled	No	200% FPL
Household with member 60+ or disabled, gross income < 200% FPL	No	No
Household with member 60+ or disabled, gross income > 200% FPL**	Yes	No
Household member disqualified due to IPV	Yes	130% FPL

** Note

Household’s net income must be low enough to qualify for a benefit. Households above 200% FPL gross income do not qualify for the $23 minimum benefit.

DTA Online Guide

Endnotes

1:

106 C.M.R. §364.370

2:

106 C.M.R.§365.180

3:

106 C.M.R. §364.600(A)

4:

106 C.M.R.§363.230(O)

5:

7 C.F.R.§273.2(j)(2)(vii)