Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits that help eligible low-income households buy the food they need for good health. For most households, SNAP funds account for only a portion of their food budgets; they must also use their own funds to buy enough food to last throughout the month. Eligible households can receive food assistance through regular SNAP or through the Louisiana Combined Application Project (LaCAP). The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) provides eligible low-to-moderate-income households who do not normally receive SNAP benefits with help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. 

SNAP participants may also meet the income eligibility guidelines for nutrition services through Louisiana WIC.

Eligibility

To get benefits through regular SNAP, households must meet certain tests, including resource and income tests.

Resources: Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or households including anyone who receives Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), or Strategies to Empower People (STEP) Program benefits are exempt from the resource limit. Households not exempt from the resource limit may have up to $3000 in resources, such as a bank account, cash, certificate of deposit (CDs), stocks, and bonds. Non-exempt households that include at least one household member who is age 60 or older or includes a disabled member may have up to $4500 in resources.

Households are not exempt from the resource limit if:

  • Any member is disqualified for Intentional Program Violation
  • The household is disqualified for failing to comply with work registration requirements.

The following individuals are not exempt from the resource limit:

  • An ineligible alien
  • An ineligible student
  • An individual who is disqualified for failure to comply with work registration requirements
  • An individual who is disqualified for failure to provide or apply for a Social Security number
  • An individual who is on strike

Income: Households must meet income tests (unless any member is receiving FITAP, KCSP, STEP benefits, or all members are receiving SSI).

Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with a person who is 60 years old or older or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test.

Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.

Allotment Amounts: The amount of SNAP a household receives depends on the number of people in the SNAP household and the amount of their net income. The table below shows the maximum SNAP allotments by household size.

Allotment Breakdown
Household Size Max Gross Monthly Eligibility Standard 130% Poverty Max Gross Monthly Eligibility Standard 200% Poverty Max Net Monthly Income Eligibility Standard Maximum SNAP Allotment
1 $1,632 $2,510 $1,255 $292
2 $2,215 $3,407 $1,704 $536
3 $2,798 $4,304 $2,152 $768
4 $3,380 $5,200 $2,600 $975
5 $3,963 $6,097 $3,049 $1158
6 $4,546 $6,994 $3,497 $1390
7 $5,129 $7,890 $3,945 $1536
8 $5,712 $8,787 $4,394 $1756
Each additional member +$583 +$897 +$449 +$220
  • There are 5 columns in the table. To view all the columns on smartphones with smaller screens, rotate the phone to the horizontal position or scroll the table horizontally ( ↔ ) with a screen drag.
  • BroadBased-Categorically Eligible (BBCE) households are required to meet the Maximum Gross Monthly Income Standard of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) instead of 130% of the FPL.

Benefits

SNAP Benefits Amounts

Benefits depend on both the number of persons in the household and the net monthly income amount remaining after all allowable deductions have been subtracted. Income deductions are subtracted from both earned and unearned income.

Budget sheets are frequently used by other organizations as proof of SNAP benefits. Print your Budget Sheet by accessing your CAFÉ account.

Deductions
Earned Income 20% of gross earnings
Standard
Household Size Deduction Amount
1 - 3 $204
4 $217
5 $254
6 or more $291
Medical A Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) of $161 is allowed for elderly or disabled household members who incur medical expenses of at least $35.01. Households with verified medical expenses that exceed $196 will receive the actual verified amount as a deduction.
Dependent Care Payments for the care of a child or other incapacitated adult which are necessary for a household member to work, look for work or attend school or training
Child Support Allowable for payments of legally obligated child support
Shelter
  • Allowable shelter costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, insurance on the structure and utility expenses) in excess of 50% of household income remaining after all other deductions
  • For households with an elderly or disabled member, there is no limit on the shelter deduction; for all other households, the shelter deduction cannot exceed $712.

How are My Benefits Issued?

Check the Balance on your Louisiana Purchase Card (EBT Account)

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a method of delivering governmental benefits to recipients electronically. Louisiana uses magnetic stripe card technology. The card, which is referred to as the Louisiana Purchase Card enables recipients to access benefits at Point-of-Sale (POS) machines.

SNAP benefits are posted to recipients' accounts during the first fourteen days of the month. Recipient benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. Benefits are posted on the same date every month regardless of the day of the week. Holidays and weekends do not affect the date of benefit availability. In emergency situations, benefits are available immediately.

Benefits are secure and accessible only to persons authorized by the recipient. The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is selected by the recipient and must be correctly entered in order to successfully complete all electronic transactions. As purchases are made at grocery store checkout lanes, recipient accounts are debited and the recipient is given a receipt that provides the remaining account balance.

 

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:

  • Foods for the household to eat, such as:
    • breads and cereals
    • fruits and vegetables
    • meats, fish and poultry
    • dairy products
  • Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat.

 

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:

  • Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
  • Any nonfood items, such as:
    • pet foods
    • soaps, paper products
    • household supplies
  • Vitamins and medicines
  • Food that will be eaten in the store
  • Hot foods

In general, food products that contain alcohol or tobacco, items that are not intended for human consumption (e.g. paper products, pet foods, etc.), vitamins and supplements, and foods sold hot at the point-of-sale, are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.

Your Rights

Did
You
Know?

You have the right to:

  • Receive an application when you ask for it.
  • Turn in your application the same day you receive it.
  • Receive your SNAP benefits (or be notified that you are not eligible for the program) within 30 days after you turn in your application.
  • Receive SNAP benefits within 7 days if you are eligible and have little or no money.
  • Have a fair hearing if you disagree with any action taken on your case.
Learn more

Historical Information

This program was established by Congress in 1964 by PL 88-55, which was superseded by the Food Stamp Act of 1977 and subsequent amendments to the Act. It is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Service and at the state level by the Louisiana Department of Health.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, which was signed into law on August 22, 1996, implemented many changes in SNAP, including a limit on the number of months certain persons can receive SNAP benefits without working.

Related Links

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

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