Income Eligibility

• The amount you receive in SNAP aid is based on your level of need. In order to be considered for the food stamp program, however, your household must meet gross and net income tests. Your net income must be within 100 percent of the poverty level and your gross income within 130 percent of the poverty level. Income from all household members over the age of 18 is used to determine your allotment. There is one exception to this rule. If any of your household members receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, their income is not considered when determining your eligibility for food stamps.
  
  

Household

• The number of people in your household determines how much you can receive in SNAP aid. The minimum number in a household is one person; however, there is no cap on the number of people who can reside in a household. A household is defined as anyone in your home who shares meals and expenses. A child under the age of 22 who purchases meals separately may still be considered a member of your household.
  
  

Allotments

• Household allotments are disbursed once per month via an Electronic Benefits Card. EBT cards comes with a Personal Identification Number that you use like a debit card when buying food. As of 2011, the maximum allotment a one-person household can receive in SNAP aid per month is $200. A two-person household can receive $367, while a three-person household can receive $526. Households with five members can receive up to $793. A six-person household can receive up to $952 and a seven-person household can receive $1,052. Once your household size exceeds 8 members, an additional $150 is added to your allotment per person.
  
  

Calculations

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program uses a special formula to determine how much a household size should receive in aid. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the net monthly income of the household is multiplied by .3, and the result is subtracted from the maximum allotment for the household size to find the household's allotment. These calculations are based on the assumption that families spend approximately 30 percent of their income on food. Household allotments are prorated for new applicants. If you apply after the first of the month, your allotment is reduced to cover the remaining number of days in the month.