SNAP Eligibility Requirements

Effective October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026
Household Size	Maximum Gross Monthly Income (130% FPL)	Maximum Net Monthly Income (200% FPL)	Maximum Net Monthly Income (100% FPL)
1	$1,696	$2,610	$1,305
2	$2,292	$3,526	$1,763
3	$2,888	$4,442	$2,221
4	$3,483	$5,360	$2,680
5	$4,079	$6,276	$3,138
6	$4,675	$7,192	$3,596
7	$5,271	$8,110	$4,055
8	$5,867	$9,026	$4,513
Each Additional Member	$596	$918	$459
*200% FPL Gross income standard is used to determine expanded categorical SNAP eligibility.

 

SNAP Policy Quick-Reference Guide 

The SNAP policy quick-reference guide will help you understand the potential impact of a new cash
or in-kind benefit on a household’s SNAP benefits. 

Deductions
To determine a SNAP household’s monthly net income, there are certain allowable deductions that are subtracted from the household’s gross monthly income. Some of the deduction amounts are set by the Federal government and are subject to change each October 1.

• 20 percent deduction is applied to earned income (e.g., money from a job or self-employment). 
• A standard deduction is applied to all SNAP households. The standard deduction is $204 for households with 1 to 3 individuals, $254 for a household of 5, and $291 for households with 6 or more individuals (this may be higher for some larger households). 
• A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education. 
• Legally owed child support payments. 
• Excess shelter costs that are more than half of the household’s income after all other deductions have been applied. The excess shelter deduction is capped at $712 unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled. Each household receives a standard utility allowance deduction of $374, which is updated every October 1, to account for utility costs such as fuel, electricity, and water. In addition to the standard, a household can claim the following allowable shelter costs: 
• Rent or mortgage payments and interest 
• Taxes on the home 

Households with a person(s) age 60 years or older or a person with a disability can also deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses of more than $35. Payments made by insurance or someone else cannot be counted. 

Resource Limits

Resources are things like bank accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, and stocks and bonds. Some things never count, such as the value of the home. Most District residents applying for SNAP are determined categorically eligible and do not have a limit on resources. 

If you apply for SNAP, the District will review your information to determine if a resource limit applies. 

For households that have a resource limit, households may have $3,000 in countable resources. If the household includes a person who is age 60 or older or a person who has a disability, the resource limit is $4,500. Resource limits are set by the Federal government and are subject to change each October 1. 

Certification Period

Households approved for SNAP are assigned a certification period.  The certification period is the length of time your household will receive benefits.  In some cases, a certification period may end early if there is a change in circumstances that makes the household ineligible (e.g., receiving an increase in earned or unearned income). 

Most SNAP households will receive a 12-month certification period.  SNAP households that meet ESAP (Elderly Simplified Application Project) criteria will receive a 36-month certification period. Households that meet ESAP criteria are households in which: 

• All adults are age 60 or older and/or disabled, and
• Do not have earned income. 

Throughout the certification period, households are required to report specific changes.  If the household wishes to continue receiving SNAP at the end of the certification period, the household will need to complete the recertification process. 
 

Ongoing Eligibility Requirements 

Every SNAP household has a certification period and assigned reporting requirements based on the makeup of each household. 

Your certification period indicates how long you’ll get benefits before we review your case for renewal and your assigned reporting requirements indicates when/if you need to check-in and what information you need to report. 

Read your approval notice to find out your certification period and your reporting requirements. If you aren’t sure or you have questions, please call the ESA Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355 or visit a local ESA Service Center. 

For most SNAP households, check-in is required at the mid-point of the certification period.  This is called a “mid-certification” or “interim contact” where you will need to provide us updated information.   

We will send you a notice when it is time to complete a mid-certification or interim contact. 

In addition to these mid-point check-ins, your assigned reporting requirements will determine what changes you must report in between these check-in periods. Some certification types have more reporting requirements than others. 

At the end of your certification period, you will need to complete recertification for us to determine if you are still eligible to continue receiving SNAP benefits.  We will send you a notice when it is time to complete the recertification process. 

Overview of Certification Periods and Reporting Requirements 

Simplified Reporting 
SNAP households with the following certification periods are assigned simplified reporting requirements: 

• All SNAP households with a 12-month certification period are assigned simplified reporting requirements 

Households assigned 12-month certification periods must complete a mid-certification at month 6. Households assigned 6-month certification periods do not need to complete a mid-certification. 

All simplified reporting households must complete recertification at the end of their certification period if they wish to be considered for ongoing eligibility. 

All simplified reporting households must report the following changes no later than 10 days from the end of the month in which the change occurred. If the change occurs with less than 10 days remaining in the month, the change must be reported within 10 days. 

Your household’s gross monthly income goes over the limit for your household size at the time you applied or last recertified (see Table 1 on the SNAP General Eligibility Requirements section for the current gross monthly income limits by household size). If your income increases, but is still below your limit, you don’t have to update us. 

A household member wins $4,250 or more in lottery or gambling winnings (a cash prize/winning won in a single game, before taxes or other amounts withheld) 

Eligibility for Elderly and Disabled Residents 

The District of Columbia (District) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program has special rules for households with elderly or disabled members.   

Federal rules for SNAP define elderly as an individual who is 60 years or older.  To be considered disabled for SNAP purposes, an individual must meet one of the following criteria: 

• Receiving federal disability or blindness payments under the Social Security Act, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security disability or blindness payments 
• Receiving state disability or blindness payments based on SSI rules including the District’s Interim Disability Assistance (IDA) 
• Receiving a disability retirement benefit from a governmental agency because of a permanent disability 
• Receiving an annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act and are eligible for Medicare or are considered disabled under SSI 
• A veteran who is totally disabled, permanently homebound, or in need of regular aid and attendance 

SNAP Household 
A household is everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together as a group.  Spouses and most children under age 22 are automatically included in the same SNAP household even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. 

If a person is 60 years of age or older and unable to purchase and prepare meals separately because of a permanent disability, the person and the person's spouse may be a separate SNAP household if the others they live with do not have very much income (no more than 165 percent of the poverty level). 

Normally you are not eligible for SNAP benefits if an institution gives you most of your meals. However, there is one exception for elderly persons and one for disabled persons: 

• Residents of federally subsidized housing for the elderly may be eligible for SNAP benefits, even if they receive their meals at the facility. 
• Disabled persons who live in certain nonprofit group living arrangements (small group homes with no more than 16 residents) may be eligible for SNAP benefits, even if the group home prepares their meals for them. 

SNAP Income Limits 
In general, each SNAP household member’s income is counted together and compared to the income limits to determine eligibility.  Income includes money earned from a job or self-employment and money received from sources like the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) or retirement. 

Households with a person(s) age 60 years or older or a person with a disability only need to meet the net monthly income limit (see Table 1 below). 

• Net income means a SNAP household’s total gross income minus allowable deductions 

If the SNAP household receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits, TANF non-cash benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) the SNAP household is considered categorically eligible for SNAP.  Categorical eligibility for SNAP means the household has already been determined eligible for another means-tested program.  Most District residents applying for SNAP are determined categorically eligible. 

 

Table 1: SNAP Net Monthly Income Limits by Household Size 

for Elderly & Disabled Households 
The below income limits are set by the Federal government and are subject to change each October 1. 
The net monthly income limit is set at 100 percent of the FPL. 

Effective October 1, 2025– September 30, 2026
Household Size	Maximum Net Monthly Income (100% FPL)
1	$1,305
2	$1,763
3	$2,221
4	$2,680
5	$3,138
6	$3,596
7	$4,055
8	$4,513
Each Additional Member	$459

 

Deductions 

To determine a SNAP household’s monthly net income, there are certain allowable deductions that are subtracted from the household’s gross monthly income. Some of the deduction amounts are set by the Federal government and are subject to change each October 1. 

• 20 percent deduction is applied to earned income (e.g., money from a job or self-employment). 
• A standard deduction is applied to all SNAP households. The standard deduction is $204 for households with 1 to 3 individuals, $254 for households with 5 individuals, and $291 for households with 6 or more individuals (this may be higher for some larger households). 
• A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education. 
• Legally owed child support payments. 
• Excess shelter costs that are more than half of the household’s income after all other deductions have been applied. The excess shelter deduction is capped at $712 unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled. Each household receives a standard utility allowance deduction of $374, which is updated every October 1, to account for utility costs such as fuel, electricity, and water. In addition to the standard, a household can claim the following allowable shelter costs: 
  • Rent or mortgage payments and interest 
  • Taxes on the home 
  • Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members in excess of $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else 
     

Excess Medical Expense Deduction

Households with a person(s) age 60 years or older or a person with a disability can also deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses of more than $35 monthly. Payments made by insurance or someone else cannot be counted. 

Allowable costs include: 

• most medical and dental expenses, such as doctor bills, prescription drugs, and other over-the-counter medication when approved by a doctor 
• dentures, inpatient and outpatient hospital expenses 
• nursing care 

They also include other medically related expenses such as: 

• certain transportation costs 
• attendant care 
• health insurance premiums 

Elderly or disabled residents are encouraged to claim the excess medical expense deduction when they are applying or recertifying for SNAP for any allowable medical costs. You will need to provide DHS copies of receipts or bills for allowable medical costs. 

Resource Limits 

Resources are things like bank accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, and stocks and bonds. Some things never count, such as the value of the home. Most District residents applying for SNAP are determined categorically eligible and do not have a limit on resources. 

If you apply for SNAP, the District will review your information to determine if a resource limit applies. 

For households that have a resource limit, households may have $3,000 in countable resources. If the household includes a person who is age 60 or older or a person who has a disability, the resource limit is $4,500. Resource limits are set by the Federal government and are subject to change each October 1. 

Certification Period 

Households approved for SNAP are assigned a certification period. The certification period is the length of time you will receive benefits. In some cases, a certification period may end early if there is a change in circumstances that makes the household ineligible (e.g., receiving an increase in earned or unearned income). 

SNAP households in which all members are elderly and/or disabled will receive a 36-month certification period if there is no earned income or a 12-month certification period if the household has earned income. SNAP households in which all members are elderly and/or disabled are exempt from the Mid-Certification process. 

Throughout the certification period, households are required to report specific changes. If the household wishes to continue receiving SNAP at the end of the certification period, the household will need to complete the recertification process. 

Eligibility for College Students 

Many students attending an institution of higher education (i.e., college, university, trade/technical school) more than half-time (as determined by the institution) may be eligible for food assistance through the District’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they meet at least one of the exemptions listed below. 

Students who meet an exemption must also meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements, such as income limits. The institution of higher education determines what is considered ‘half-time’ enrollment. 

SNAP College Student Exemptions 

To be eligible for SNAP as a student, you will need to show documentation that you meet an exemption. For example, if you are participating in work-study programs (or determined eligible to participate during the COVID-19 emergency, regardless of whether you are participating), you will need to show proof such as a financial aid award letter. Some of this documentation you will already need to provide when you apply for SNAP and you will not have to provide additional information. See the chart below for examples. 
 

Examples of documents that can be used to verify student exemptions: 

SNAP Student Exemption:	Examples of Verification Documents (this is not an exhaustive list)
Are under age 18 or are age 50 or older	Driver’s license, birth certificate, other proof (if not already provided when applying for SNAP to show identity)
Are unable to work due to a physical or mental condition	Letter from a health care provider, proof of receipt of disability benefits (if not already provided)
Work at least 20 hours a week in paid employment	Pay stubs, a letter from your employer (if not already provided)
Participate in a state or federally financed work-study program	Financial Aid or Work Study Award letter
Participate in an on-the-job training program	Program acceptance letter or other documents, contact from program administrators
Caring for children under the age of six	Child’s birth certificate or other proof (you would likely already provide this during your SNAP application)
Caring for children ages six to 11 and lacking childcare	Child’s birth certificate or other proof (you would likely already provide this during your SNAP application); you can attest to a lack of childcare
Single parent (full-time student) caring for a child under age 12	Child’s birth certificate or other proof (you would likely already provide this during your SNAP application); evidence of school enrollment
Receive TANF assistance/enrolled in the TANF work program	No additional verification is required (the District will have this information)
Are placed in college through eligible employment and training program	Program acceptance letter or other documents, contact from program administrators

 

• SNAP College Students One Pager - FY2023 - 10-3-2022- English.pdf 
• SNAP College Students One Pager - FY2023 - 10-3-2022 - Spanish.pdf 
• SNAP College Students One Pager - FY2023 - 10-3-2022 - Amharic.pdf