As of Oct. 1, 2008, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program.

The Districts’ SNAP program helps low-income residents and families buy the food they need for good health. You can apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores.

Households may have $2,000 in countable resources, such as a bank account. Households may have $3,000 if at least one person is age 60 or older, or is disabled. Certain resources are not counted, such as a home and lot and the resources of people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Income Requirements:
Households have to meet income tests unless all members are receiving TANF, SSI, or in some places general assistance. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.

Household size	Gross monthly income (130 percent of poverty)	Net monthly income (100 percent of poverty)
1	1,127	$ 867
2	1,517	1,167
3	1,907	1,467
4	2,297	1,767
5	2,687	2,067
6	3,077	2,367
7	3,467	2,667
8	3,857	2,967
Each additional member	+ 390	+ 300

Gross income means a household's total, nonexcluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

Deductions are allowed as follows:

• A 20 percent deduction from earned income;
  

• A standard deduction of $144 for households sizes of 1 to 3 people and $147 for a household size of 4 (higher for some larger households);
  

• A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education;
  

• Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members that are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else;
  

• Legally owed child support payments;
  

• Some States allow homeless households a set amount ($143) for shelter costs; and
  

• Excess shelter costs that are more than half of the household's income after the other deductions. Allowable costs include the cost of fuel to heat and cook with, electricity, water, the basic fee for one telephone, rent or mortgage payments and taxes on the home. The amount of the shelter deduction cannot be more than $446 unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled.
  
  
  

  Gross Income Computation	Example
  Determine household size...	4 people with no elderly or disabled members.
  Add gross monthly income...	$1,500 earned income + $550 social security = $2,050 gross income.
  If gross monthly income is less than the limit  for household size, determine net income.	$2,050 is less than the $2,297 allowed for a 4- person household, so determine net income.