SNAP for Seniors: The New $306 Benefit, the Rules That Favor People 60+, and How to Apply
A lot of older adults never apply for SNAP because they’re sure they won’t qualify. “I get Social Security, so I make too much.” Or, “It’s only $25, why bother?” After going through the rules line by line, I think both of those beliefs cost people real grocery money.
SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, still called food stamps by plenty of people) has a separate set of rules for households where someone is 60 or older, and those rules are generous in ways most applicants never hear about. New benefit amounts also took effect on October 1, 2026, so this is a good moment to take a fresh look.
A quick word on who’s writing: I research benefit programs and compare the official rules for readers. I’m not a caseworker or a benefits lawyer, and only your state SNAP office can decide your case. Every number below comes from USDA’s own rules for October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, checked on October 8, 2026.
How much SNAP pays now (October 2026 to September 2027)
SNAP amounts are adjusted every October. These are the maximum monthly benefits in the 48 contiguous states and D.C., from USDA’s fiscal year 2027 cost-of-living adjustment memo (August 21, 2026):
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit (FY 2027) | Last year (FY 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $306 | $298 |
| 2 people | $562 | $546 |
| 3 people | $808 | $785 |
| 4 people | $1,023 | $994 |
| Minimum for eligible 1-2 person households | $25 | $24 |
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have their own, higher amounts. In Hawaii, a single person can get up to $496, and in urban Alaska up to $392.
Most people don’t get the maximum. SNAP assumes you’ll spend about 30% of your own net income on food, so your benefit is the maximum minus 30% of your net income. That’s why the deductions I cover below matter so much. Every dollar of deductions lowers your net income and raises your benefit.
The rules that work in your favor at 60+
USDA’s page on SNAP special rules for the elderly or disabled lays these out. In SNAP, “elderly” simply means 60 or older. Here’s what changes once someone in your household reaches that age:
- No gross income test. Most households have to pass two income tests. A household with someone 60+ or disabled only has to pass the net income test, which is applied after deductions.
- A medical expense deduction. Out-of-pocket medical costs above $35 a month can be deducted for the older or disabled member. Younger, healthy households don’t get this one.
- No cap on the shelter deduction. Other households can deduct no more than $769 a month in excess housing costs. If you’re 60+, there’s no limit.
- A higher asset limit. $4,750 in countable resources instead of $3,000. Your home and lot don’t count, and neither do most retirement and pension plans. Many states raise or waive the asset test through a policy called broad-based categorical eligibility.
- More ways to get help. If you’re 60 or older and can’t buy and cook meals on your own because of a permanent disability, you and your spouse can sometimes count as a separate SNAP household even when you live with relatives. Residents of federally subsidized senior housing can qualify even if the building serves meals.
The income test, using real numbers
For a household with someone 60 or older, the test is net monthly income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level:
- 1 person: $1,330 a month
- 2 people: $1,804 a month
Social Security, pensions and SSI all count as income. But the limit applies after deductions, and that’s where many people’s math goes wrong. Someone with $1,500 a month in Social Security is over $1,330 on paper and can still qualify comfortably once deductions come off.
Here’s how the deductions work, in order:
- Start with gross monthly income.
- Subtract the standard deduction: $217 for households of one to three people.
- Subtract medical costs over $35 a month (60+ or disabled members only).
- Work out your excess shelter cost: rent or mortgage, property taxes and utilities, minus half of what’s left of your income. For 60+ households, all of it counts.
- What’s left is your net income. Compare it to the limit, then take 30% of it off the maximum benefit.
If everyone in your household gets SSI, you may be “categorically eligible” and skip parts of this test, though the benefit is still figured the same way. Our SSI guide covers that program.
The medical deduction: the step most people skip
This is the part I’d underline if I could. According to the National Council on Aging, fewer than 1 in 5 older adults on SNAP take the medical deduction, even though many more would qualify.
Allowable costs include doctor and dental bills, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicine your doctor recommends, dentures, hospital and nursing care, health insurance premiums, and certain medical transportation. Your Medicare Part B premium counts. In 2026 that’s $202.90 a month for most people, which on its own puts you well past the $35 threshold. (The 2027 premium hasn’t been announced yet.) If a Medicare Savings Program pays your premium, though, it doesn’t count, because you’re not paying it yourself.
To see why this matters, here’s one made-up but realistic example: a single woman, 68, with $1,500 a month in Social Security, $800 a month in rent and utilities, her $202.90 Part B premium, and about $60 a month in copays and prescriptions.
Without the deduction, her benefit is the $25 minimum. With it, $71 a month, or about $850 a year. Higher medical bills push it higher still.
Bring proof: your Medicare card or Social Security statement showing the premium, pharmacy printouts, and recent bills. Some states use a standard medical deduction, a set amount for anyone who shows more than $35 in costs, which saves you from itemizing every receipt. You can still claim your actual costs if they’re higher. Ask your SNAP office which one your state uses.
Work rules changed for people 60 to 64
This is the one rule that got tougher, and a lot of older articles still have it wrong.
The 2025 budget law (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) expanded SNAP’s time limit for “able-bodied adults without dependents.” USDA’s implementation memo says the time limit now applies to people 18 through 64, up from 54. If it applies to you, you can get SNAP for only 3 months in 3 years unless you work, volunteer or join a work program at least 80 hours a month.
What it means for older adults:
- 65 and older: not subject to the time limit.
- 60 to 64: you’re still exempt from SNAP’s general work requirements, and states can’t force you into an employment and training program. But you can be subject to the 3-month time limit unless an exception applies, such as being physically or mentally unable to work, or caring for a child under 14 in your household.
- If you get disability benefits or have a health condition that limits work, tell your SNAP office, since being unable to work is an exception.
Our article on SNAP work requirements for people 55 to 64 goes through the exceptions and how to report them.
What SNAP can and can’t buy
SNAP covers most food you’d buy to prepare at home, including fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, cereal, snacks and even seeds and plants that grow food. It doesn’t cover alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or supplements (anything with a Supplement Facts label), hot prepared foods, pet food, or household and hygiene items.
Two newer wrinkles:
- Soda and candy limits in some states. USDA has approved state waivers that block SNAP purchases of soda, candy or both. USDA lists start dates of January 1, 2026, for Indiana, April 1 for Texas and April 20 for Florida. Ohio and Virginia are set for November 1, 2026, and more states are scheduled for 2027. A federal court vacated the approvals for Colorado, Iowa and West Virginia in June 2026. USDA keeps a state-by-state map.
- Restaurant meals. In states that run the Restaurant Meals Program, households where everyone is 60+ or disabled can use SNAP at approved restaurants. Ask your state whether it participates.
How to apply, step by step
- Find your state’s SNAP agency. You apply in the state where you live. USDA’s state directory links to every state’s website and hotline. Many states let you apply online, by phone, by mail or in person.
- Gather paperwork: ID, proof of income (your Social Security award letter or a printout from your online account), rent or mortgage statement, utility bills, and every medical bill and premium you pay.
- Submit the application as soon as you can. If you’re approved, benefits count back to the date the state received it, so don’t hold it back while you hunt for one missing paper. You can send documents afterward.
- Do the interview. It’s usually by phone, sometimes in person. If you can’t handle it yourself, you can name an authorized representative in writing to apply and interview for you.
- Watch for the decision. In most cases the state decides within 30 days. If you have very little money, you may get benefits within 7 days.
Once you’re approved, some states certify older households with no earned income for up to 36 months with fewer check-ins, through USDA’s Elderly Simplified Application Project. If you’re denied or think your benefit is too low, you have 90 days to ask for a fair hearing.
A tip on heating and cooling bills: if your household includes someone 60+ and you’ve received more than $20 in LIHEAP energy assistance in the past year, your state has to give you its heating and cooling utility allowance, which can raise your shelter deduction. Our LIHEAP guide explains how to apply.
Other food help worth checking
SNAP isn’t the only option. The CSFP senior food box delivers a monthly box of groceries to lower-income adults 60 and older in many areas, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives coupons for fresh produce in season. You can use SNAP and these programs at the same time. NCOA’s free BenefitsCheckUp.org tool screens you for SNAP and dozens of other programs in one go.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get SNAP if I only have Social Security?
Yes. Social Security counts as income, but for households with someone 60+, only net income is tested. With the standard, medical and shelter deductions, many people on Social Security alone qualify.
Does owning my home disqualify me?
No. Your home and the land it sits on don’t count as a resource. Most retirement accounts don’t count either.
Is $25 a month really worth the paperwork?
That’s your call, but two things are worth knowing. Many people who expect the minimum get more once their medical costs and housing are counted. And SNAP is one of the programs that qualifies you for Lifeline, the federal phone and internet discount.
Do I have to work to get SNAP at 62?
Not under the general work rules, which stop at 59. But if you’re 60 to 64, able to work and have no child under 14 at home, the 3-month time limit can apply unless you meet an exception. At 65 it no longer applies.
Can someone apply for me?
Yes. You can name an authorized representative in writing, such as an adult child, a friend or a caseworker, to apply and do the interview on your behalf.
The bottom line
If you’re 60 or older and money is tight, apply. The worst outcome is a “no.” Bring every medical bill and premium receipt, because that’s where most seniors’ benefits are won or lost. For one-on-one help, your local Area Agency on Aging can often walk you through the application. If you also need help with Medicare costs, the Medicare Savings Program guide is a good next read.
Related guides
2027 Social Security COLA Is 3.6%: What It Means for Your Check, SSI and Medicare
The $90 Medicare Part B Rebate: Who Gets It, When It Arrives, and What to Watch For
my Social Security Account in 2026: How to Sign In With Login.gov or ID.me, Fix Common Problems and Stay Safe
