The food stamp program’s rules about how much money families can save are stuck in the past. The $3,000 asset limit for SNAP benefits has barely changed since 1985, even though everything costs much more today than it did 40 years ago.
This outdated rule means that families trying to save for emergencies might lose their food assistance. If you have more than $3,000 in the bank, you can’t get SNAP benefits in many states. For seniors and people with disabilities, that limit is only $4,500.
What Are Asset Limits?
Asset limits are rules that say how much money and property you can own and still get food stamps. The federal government set these limits decades ago and hasn’t really updated them to match today’s cost of living. Regular inflation adjustments happen for benefit amounts and income limits, but not for how much you’re allowed to save.
The Food Stamp Program started using these asset tests to make sure help goes to people who truly need it. But many experts now say these old rules do more harm than good.
How the Rules Changed (But Not Much)
Back in 2008, Congress tried to fix the problem. The Farm Bill that year said asset limits should go up with inflation. But there was a catch. The limits only increase in $250 jumps, which means inflation has to build up a lot before anything changes.
This weird math means the asset limit stays frozen for years at a time. When the 2008 law passed, experts predicted it would take until 2012 or 2014 before families would see any increase at all. That’s a long time to wait when prices keep going up every single year.
Today in 2026, most households face a $3,000 asset limit. Households with elderly or disabled members can have up to $4,500. These numbers are only slightly higher than what they were almost 20 years ago, even though rent, gas, groceries, and everything else costs way more now.
Why This Matters for Families
The frozen asset limits create big problems for low-income families trying to build financial security. Here’s what happens:
- Families can’t save for emergencies without risking their food benefits
- Only half of SNAP households have bank accounts, compared to 70% of other poor families
- People hide money or avoid saving to stay eligible for help
- Families lose benefits when they save even small amounts, then have to reapply later
Research shows that strict asset tests actually push families away from banks and financial planning. When you can’t save more than $3,000 without losing food help, it’s hard to prepare for car repairs, medical bills, or other surprise costs.
Some States Found a Way Around It
Because the federal rules are so outdated, 37 states and Washington DC have eliminated asset tests completely. They use something called broad-based categorical eligibility, which removes the asset limit for most families.
Only 13 states still check how much money you have in the bank:
- Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas
- Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota
- Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming
Some of these states set their own higher limits. Idaho, Indiana, and Texas allow $5,000 in assets. Nebraska is the most generous, allowing $25,000 in liquid assets before cutting off food assistance.
The Bottom Line
The $3,000 SNAP asset limit represents one of America’s most outdated poverty program rules. While benefit amounts and income eligibility get updated regularly, the savings limit stays frozen year after year. This disconnect means families must choose between saving money and getting food help.
Nutrition assistance programs should help families become more stable, not punish them for trying to save. Until Congress fixes the asset limit formula, millions of Americans will face an impossible choice: build emergency savings or keep food on the table.
The good news is that more states are recognizing this problem and removing asset tests entirely. But for families in the 13 states that still enforce these limits, the outdated $3,000 rule continues to block their path to financial security.
