SNAP: help buying food
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. It is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program.[1] To get SNAP you must apply in the state where you currently live and meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits.[2]
Who it is for
SNAP is for households whose income and resources are under the program's limits. Those limits are updated every year; the USDA publishes the current figures, and the ones on its page as we checked it apply from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.[2] Households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled have a higher resource limit.[2]
The USDA says a 2025 federal law changes some SNAP rules, including work requirements and eligibility for non-citizens, and that it is updating its pages.[2] Check the official page and your state agency for the rules that apply to you now.
How to apply
Each state has its own application form and process, so you apply through your state agency, not the USDA. Some states accept applications online.[2][3]
- USDA: SNAP state directory of resources (find your state agency)
- USDA: SNAP eligibility and current limits
These links go to the official website. You cannot apply on this site.
The USDA itself does not process applications or have access to case information.[2]
Sources
Each source was checked on 2026-10-05. Rules and amounts change; the official page is the one to rely on.