SNAP & TANF Overview - English

Basic SNAP/TANF Overview:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide nutrition benefits to low income individuals and families. For individuals/families to qualify for SNAP benefits, they must meet the gross income, net income, and resource limits. Individuals/families that have a member who are 60 or older or who is disabled do not have to meet the gross income amount but must still meet the net income amount. The resource limit for SNAP is $2,250 for a household where there are no disabled or individuals 60 or older and $3,500 for households where one member is disabled or 60 or older.

For a family of four, the gross income limit is $2,790, and for a single individual the gross income limit is $1,354. Your unemployment benefits as well as the extra $600 per week are included in your gross monthly income calculation.

To calculate the actual benefit, you need to determine your net income amount. On your SNAP application you will need to report your expenses, including but not limited to childcare and shelter costs. For individuals that are disabled or 60 or older, you will also want to include your monthly medical expenses.

The maximum SNAP amount is $194 for a single individual and $646 for a household of four. However, the state has issued the full amount of SNAP benefits for the months of March, April, and May to all SNAP households.

Additionally, there is usually a work requirement for many individuals receiving SNAP, but this requirement has been waived during the pandemic.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) provides cash assistance to low-income families with children. A family can only receive a maximum of 60 months of TANF. There is normally a work requirement for certain individuals; however, the Department of Social Services will not be conducting initial assessment for work requirements or imposing sanctions for this requirement during the pandemic.