Last Updated: August 2026 | Source: Texas HHSC Works Handbook C-121 (Rev. 25-4, effective Oct. 1, 2025) & USDA FY2026 guidelines
SNAP (food stamps) helps low-income Texans buy groceries every month. You can apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone at 2-1-1, by mail, or in person at your local Health and Human Services (HHSC) office. Once approved, benefits load onto a Lone Star Card, which works like a debit card at grocery stores, farmers markets, and many online retailers.
Key Facts for FY2026 (Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2026):
- Processing Time: Up to 30 days for regular applications; 7 days for expedited/emergency cases
- Gross Income Limit (household of 4): $4,421/month (165% FPL — most households, via Texas’s BBCE rule)
- Net Income Limit (household of 4): $2,680/month (100% FPL)
- Maximum Benefit (1 person): $298/month
- Maximum Benefit (household of 4): $994/month
- Asset Limit: None for most households (Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility); $5,000 for households that fail the gross income test and have an elderly or disabled member
To estimate your exact benefit, use the Texas SNAP benefit calculator or see the full SNAP income limits for 2026. Your actual amount depends on household size, income, and deductible expenses.
Ways to Apply for SNAP in Texas
You can apply for Texas SNAP benefits several ways:
- Online (fastest) → Visit YourTexasBenefits.com to create an account, complete the application, and upload documents. You can save your progress and finish later, and you can apply for other benefits (like Medicaid) in the same session.
- Mobile App → The Your Texas Benefits app lets you apply, upload documents, and check your case status from your phone.
- By Phone → Call 2-1-1, choose your language, then select Option 2 for SNAP. You can also call 1-877-541-7905 for application help.
- In Person → Visit your nearest HHSC benefits office. Staff can help you complete the application on the spot.
- By Mail or Fax → Download Form H1010 from hhs.texas.gov/forms and mail or fax it to your local office.
Missing a document? Submit your application anyway — HHSC lets you upload supporting documents later through the portal or app. Filing your application starts your 30-day (or 7-day expedited) processing clock, even if paperwork is incomplete.
Do You Qualify? The Two Income Tests
Most Texas households must pass two income tests:
- Gross income test — 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Texas raises this limit above the federal minimum (130% FPL) using a rule called Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE). This is the single most important number for most applicants and the one competitor guides often skip.
- Net income test — 100% FPL. This is your income after allowable deductions (standard deduction, earned income deduction, shelter costs, dependent care, medical expenses for elderly/disabled members).
Exception: If your household includes someone who is 60+ or has a disability and your gross income is above 165% FPL, you skip the gross test and only need to pass the net income test (100% FPL) plus an asset test.
Beyond income, you must also meet these requirements:
- Be a Texas resident
- Have a Social Security number for each applicant
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualified immigrant
- Meet work requirements if you’re an able-bodied adult without dependents (see below)
Texas SNAP Income Limits for 2026
These figures are effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (FY2026), per the Texas Works Handbook C-121.
| Household Size | Net Income (100% FPL) | Gross Income (130% FPL) | Gross Income (165% FPL – most TX households) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,305 | $1,696 | $2,152 |
| 2 | $1,763 | $2,292 | $2,909 |
| 3 | $2,221 | $2,888 | $3,665 |
| 4 | $2,680 | $3,483 | $4,421 |
| 5 | $3,138 | $4,079 | $5,177 |
| 6 | $3,596 | $4,675 | $5,934 |
| 7 | $4,055 | $5,271 | $6,690 |
| 8 | $4,513 | $5,867 | $7,446 |
| Each additional person | +$459 | +$596 | +$757 |
Which column applies to you? Most Texas households (no elderly/disabled member) are screened against the 165% FPL gross column. Households with an elderly or disabled member that exceed 165% FPL fall back to the net income (100% FPL) test plus an asset check.
Not sure where your income falls? Run the numbers through our Texas SNAP calculator for a personalized estimate.
Asset and Resource Limits
Because Texas uses BBCE, most households have no asset limit at all — savings, checking accounts, and vehicles generally don’t count against you.
The asset test only applies to households that:
- Fail the 165% FPL gross income test, and
- Include a member who is 60+ or has a disability
For those households, countable resources (bank accounts, stocks, bonds) must stay under $5,000. Your home is never counted, and one vehicle is excluded regardless of value.
Documents You’ll Need
Have these ready when you apply (you can upload missing items later):
- Proof of identity — driver’s license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying
- Proof of income — recent pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns, or benefit award letters (SSI/SSDI/unemployment)
- Housing costs — rent or mortgage statement, property tax bill, utility bills (including A/C costs — these count as a shelter expense in Texas’s heat)
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status
- Child care or medical expenses, if applicable, since these can increase your benefit through deductions
SNAP Work Requirements (ABAWD Rules)
Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) generally must, to keep receiving benefits past 3 months in a 3-year period:
- Work at least 20 hours per week (80 hours/month), or
- Participate in an approved job training or workfare program, or
- Be actively registered for work
Exemptions include pregnancy, a disability, being under 18 or over the ABAWD age threshold, and caring for a child. Note that federal 2025–2026 policy changes (see below) have expanded who counts as an ABAWD, so exemptions that applied in past years may no longer apply — confirm your status when you apply.
Processing Time & What Happens After You Apply
- Regular applications: HHSC has up to 30 days from your application date to determine eligibility and notify you.
- Expedited SNAP: If your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in resources — or your rent/utilities exceed your income and resources — you may get benefits within 7 days. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers with $100 or less in resources also qualify.
- After approval, HHSC schedules an eligibility interview (usually by phone).
- Your Lone Star Card arrives by mail, typically within 7–30 days of approval.
- If denied, you have 90 days to appeal, and you may continue receiving benefits during the appeal in some cases.
How Much Are SNAP Benefits in Texas? (2026 Table)
Maximum monthly SNAP allotment by household size, FY2026:
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each additional person | +$218 |
Your actual benefit depends on your net income — as a rule of thumb, every $100 of additional net income reduces your benefit by about $30. Minimum monthly allotment for 1–2 person households is $24.
What Changed for SNAP in 2026
A few important updates Texas applicants should know about heading into fall 2026:
- Expanded work requirements. Federal budget legislation passed in 2025 (commonly called the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or OBBBA) is phasing in broader ABAWD work rules, extending coverage to more age groups and fewer exemptions through 2026–2034. If you were previously exempt, check your status again.
- Purchase restrictions. Starting April 1, 2026, Texas SNAP no longer covers candy and certain sugar-sweetened beverages (soda and similar drinks with 5g+ added sugar). This affects an estimated 2.7 million Texas SNAP recipients — see our full state timeline breakdown for exactly what’s excluded.
- National enrollment decline. New federal work rules have contributed to a nationwide SNAP enrollment drop of roughly 5 million people in 2026 — read more in our enrollment analysis.
- Federal funding deadline. Congress faces a September 30, 2026 funding deadline that could affect benefit administration — see our explainer on what this means for your benefits.
SNAP Recertification
SNAP benefits aren’t permanent. Depending on your household, you’ll need to recertify every 6 to 12 months (or every 3 years if you’re on the Texas Simplified Application Project, available to households where everyone is 60+ or disabled).
HHSC mails a renewal notice before your certification period ends. Missing the deadline stops your benefits, but you can reapply anytime.
What You Can (and Can’t) Buy With SNAP
Your Lone Star Card can be used for:
- Fruits, vegetables, and seeds/plants that produce food
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Bread and cereals
- Most packaged and snack foods
You cannot buy: alcohol, tobacco, hot prepared foods, vitamins/medicines, non-food household items, or — starting April 1, 2026 — candy and certain sugar-sweetened beverages.
FAQs About SNAP in Texas 2026
1. How much can a family of 4 earn to qualify for SNAP in Texas in 2026?
Most households qualify with gross monthly income up to $4,421 (165% FPL) — Texas’s BBCE rule raises this above the federal 130% minimum. Net income (after deductions) must also fall at or below $2,680/month (100% FPL).
2. What is the maximum SNAP benefit for one person in Texas?
In FY2026, a single-person household can receive up to $298/month, loaded onto the Lone Star Card.
3. Do I need to renew my Texas SNAP benefits?
Yes. You’ll get a recertification notice every 6–12 months (or every 3 years under TSAP for elderly/disabled households). Missing the deadline stops benefits, but you can reapply.
4. Does Texas count Social Security income for SNAP?
Yes — Social Security, SSI, and SSDI count as unearned income. However, medical, housing, and dependent-care deductions can reduce your countable income significantly, which is why many seniors on fixed incomes still qualify.
5. Is there an asset limit for Texas SNAP?
No, for most households — Texas’s BBCE eliminates the asset test. It only applies ($5,000 limit) to households with an elderly/disabled member that exceed the 165% FPL gross income test.
6. Where can I check my SNAP balance?
Online at YourTexasBenefits.com, through the Your Texas Benefits app, or by calling the number on the back of your Lone Star Card.
Conclusion
Applying for SNAP in Texas is straightforward with online, phone, mail, and in-person options. Understanding the 165% FPL gross income threshold (not the standard 130%), gathering your documents ahead of time, and knowing the 2026 policy changes — expanded work rules and new purchase restrictions — will help you avoid delays. If you think you qualify, don’t wait: apply through YourTexasBenefits.com, call 2-1-1, or visit your local HHSC office.
Sources: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Works Handbook §C-120/C-121 (Revision 25-4, effective Oct. 1, 2025); USDA Food and Nutrition Service FY2026 guidelines. This article is independently written and is not affiliated with HHSC or USDA. Figures are estimates for informational purposes — confirm your exact eligibility at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1.
