The formula
It's one line: your benefit = the maximum allotment for your household size − 30% of your net monthly income. The idea is that a household is expected to spend about 30% of its own net income on food, and SNAP fills the gap up to the maximum.
FY2026 maximum allotments (48 states + DC)
The most a household can receive per month: 1 person $298, 2 people $546, 3 $785, 4 $994, 5 $1,183, 6 $1,421, 7 $1,571, 8 $1,789, plus $218 for each additional person. (Alaska and Hawaii are higher.) A household with $0 net income gets the full maximum.
A worked example
A family of 3 with $1,000 in net monthly income: max allotment $785, minus 30% of $1,000 ($300, rounded up) = $485/month. The key is net income — your income after SNAP's deductions, which is usually much lower than your paycheck. Figure your net first with the net-income calculator.
The minimum benefit
Even if the formula produces a tiny number, eligible 1- and 2-person households get at least $24/month (FY2026). Larger households can receive less than $24 only if their net income is high enough to nearly phase them out.
Estimate yours
Don't do it by hand — the max-benefit calculator applies the FY2026 numbers for you. To see how the benefit changes as income rises, use the phase-out visualizer. Remember: these are estimates; your state runs the final calculation.
General guidance, not a determination — rules vary by state. Confirm with your state SNAP office.
Sources
- USDA FNS — FY2026 maximum allotments (Thrifty Food Plan)
- 7 CFR § 273.10(e) — benefit = max allotment minus 30% of net income; $24 minimum for 1-2 person households
Lost benefits or worried about losing them? Run the 5-question lost-benefits triage — appeal timing, emergency food, and alternative programs in one walkthrough.