Texas SNAP Eligibility 2026: Who Qualifies and New Income Limits

Last updated: September 24, 2026. Figures checked against Texas HHSC and USDA sources.

Most Texas households qualify for SNAP if they pass three tests:

• Gross income at or below 165% of the poverty line.
• Net income at or below 100% of the poverty line.
• Savings plus extra vehicle value of $5,000 or less.

New limits start October 1, 2026. A single person can earn up to $2,195 a month before taxes. A family of four can earn up to $4,538.

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Many people still call it food stamps. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) runs it, and benefits go on your Lone Star Card.

Quick summary

• New income limits and benefit amounts start October 1, 2026.
• The maximum benefit rises to $306 for one person and $1,023 for a family of four.
• Texas allows $5,000 in countable resources.
• Work rules now cover more adults, up to age 64.
• Seniors and people with disabilities get extra ways to qualify.

Texas SNAP Income Limits (Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027)

Gross income is your total income before taxes. Net income is what’s left after SNAP subtracts certain costs. These limits run from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.

Household size	Gross limit (monthly)	Gross limit (yearly)	Net limit (monthly)	Max benefit
1	$2,195	$26,340	$1,330	$306
2	$2,976	$35,712	$1,804	$562
3	$3,757	$45,084	$2,277	$808
4	$4,538	$54,456	$2,750	$1,023
5	$5,319	$63,828	$3,224	$1,217
6	$6,100	$73,200	$3,697	$1,463
7	$6,881	$82,572	$4,170	$1,616
8	$7,662	$91,944	$4,644	$1,841
Each extra person	+$781	+$9,372	+$474	+$225

The old limits apply until September 30, 2026. Under them, the gross limit is $2,152 for one person and $4,421 for four.

Quick answers:

• Married couple: Up to $2,976 a month in gross income.
• Earn $54,000 a year: A family of four passes the gross test. A family of three does not.
• Earn $5,000 a month: A household of five or more passes the gross test.

Passing the gross test is only step one. You still need to pass the net test. Most people’s net income is far lower than their pay, because SNAP subtracts rent, utilities, childcare, and other costs. That’s why the two limits look so far apart.

To estimate your monthly amount, use our Texas SNAP calculator.

What Changed for Texas SNAP in 2026

Several rules changed this year. Here’s what matters most:

• October 1, 2026: Income limits and benefits went up, and the minimum benefit for one- and two-person households rose to $25.
• February 12, 2026: Texas raised how much vehicle value it ignores. More families with cars now qualify.
• April 1, 2026: You can no longer buy candy or sweetened drinks with your Lone Star Card. See the full banned items list.
• Work rules: Adults ages 18 to 64 without children under 14 now face a time limit if they don’t work.
• Immigration: Refugees, asylees, and parolees without green cards lost eligibility.
• Internet bills: These no longer count as housing costs.

Why Other Websites Show Different Texas Limits

You may see 130%, 165%, or even 200% online. Here’s what each number means:

• 130% is the standard federal limit. Texas doesn’t use it for most households.
• 165% is Texas’s limit for most households. HHSC uses this column as the income limit for households that qualify through the state’s expanded rules.
• 200% is used by some other states. Texas does not use it.

The 165% rule comes from a policy called Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE). In plain terms, Texas lets more working families qualify. If a site shows $1,696 for one person, it’s showing the old 130% figure, which is the wrong test for most Texans.

Which Eligibility Tests Apply to You?

Not everyone faces the same tests. Find your situation below.

Most households

You must pass all three tests:

• Gross income at or below 165% (see the table above).
• Net income at or below 100%.
• Countable resources of $5,000 or less.

If someone is 60 or older or has a disability

If you pass the 165% gross test, the rules above apply.

If your income is higher, you can still qualify. You skip the gross test, but your net income must be under the limit. Your resources must also be $4,750 or less. That federal limit starts October 1, 2026. Before then, it’s $4,500.

You also get extra deductions:

• Medical costs over $35 a month can be subtracted.
• Housing costs have no cap.

If everyone in your home is 60+ or disabled, you may use TSAP. It’s a simpler application, and approved households get three years of benefits at a time instead of six months.

If you get SSI or TANF cash

You automatically pass the income and resource tests. You still must meet other rules, like residency. Some SSI recipients get SNAP through SNAP-CAP. Those households don’t have to report changes.

What Counts as Income

SNAP counts most money coming into your home:

• Wages before taxes
• Self-employment and 1099 income
• Social Security, SSI, and SSDI
• Unemployment benefits
• Child support you receive
• Pensions and VA benefits

Paid weekly or every two weeks? Multiply weekly pay by 4.33. Multiply pay every two weeks by 2.17. For example, $950 every two weeks is about $2,062 a month.

Self-employed or 1099? SNAP counts what you earn minus your business costs. Keep receipts for supplies, mileage, and other expenses.

Is there a minimum income? No. You can qualify with zero income.

Deductions That Lower Your Net Income

Deductions are costs SNAP subtracts from your income. They are the reason many people pass the net test. From October 1, 2026, they include:

• Earned income: 20% of your wages is subtracted.
• Standard deduction: $217 for 1–3 people, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, and $308 for 6 or more.
• Childcare: Costs you pay so you can work or go to school.
• Child support you pay: Legally owed support is subtracted.
• Medical: Costs over $35 a month, for people 60+ or disabled.
• Housing: Rent or mortgage plus utilities, when they’re high compared to your income. The cap is $769 a month, and homeless households can claim $205.66.

Texas currently gives a $445 utility allowance if you pay heating or cooling. HHSC may update this amount on October 1.

Who Counts in Your SNAP Household

Your SNAP household is the people you live with who buy and cook food with you. It isn’t always everyone under your roof.

• Roommates: You don’t count them if you buy and cook food separately.
• Spouses: They always count, even if you eat separately.
• Children under 22 who live with a parent must be on the parent’s case. If you’re under 22 and live with your parents, they count as part of your household.
• Age 22 or older: You can have your own case, even while living with your parents, as long as you buy and cook food separately.
• Under 18: If you live with an adult who is in charge of you, you’re usually on their case.

Texas Asset and Vehicle Rules

Assets, also called resources, are money and property you own. Texas adds your countable cash to your extra vehicle value, and the total must be $5,000 or less.

Counts	Doesn’t count
Cash	Your home and the land it sits on
Checking and savings accounts	Most retirement accounts
Stocks and bonds	Household goods
Vehicle value above the limits below	Vehicles used to earn income

Vehicle rules (updated February 2026): Texas ignores the first $22,500 of your most valuable vehicle’s value. For every other vehicle, it ignores the first $8,700.

For example, a truck worth $25,000 counts as only $2,500.

Own land or rental property you don’t live in? It may count. Ask HHSC about your situation.

Texas SNAP Work Rules in 2026

There are two sets of work rules. Most adults only need to follow the first.

Basic work rules (ages 16–59)

If you can work, you must:

• Answer letters from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
• Take a suitable job if one is offered.
• Not quit a job, or cut below 30 hours a week, without a good reason.

You’re exempt if you care for a child under 6. You’re also exempt if you already work 30 hours a week or get unemployment benefits.

Time limit (ages 18–64, no kids under 14)

Adults in this group get only three months of SNAP in three years unless they meet the work rule. To meet it, you need 80 hours a month (about 20 hours a week) of any mix of:

• Paid work
• Volunteer work
• A job training program, such as SNAP Employment and Training through TWC

Child support you receive does not count as work.

Who is exempt from the time limit

You may be exempt if you:

• Are pregnant.
• Can’t work because of a health problem. You’ll need proof from a doctor.
• Care for someone who can’t care for themselves.

Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who left foster care no longer get automatic exemptions.

Citizenship and Immigration Rules

Federal law now limits SNAP to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Compact of Free Association nations.

Many green card holders must wait five years before they can get SNAP. Some groups don’t have to wait, such as children under 18 and people getting disability benefits.

Mixed-status families: Children who are citizens can still get SNAP even if a parent can’t. The parent isn’t counted in the benefit, but some of their income still counts. Parents who don’t apply for themselves don’t have to share their immigration status.

College Students

Students ages 18 to 49 in college at least half-time face an extra rule. They must meet one exemption to get SNAP. Common exemptions are working 20 hours a week, being in work-study, getting TANF, or caring for a young child.

Many Texas colleges have staff who can help. Ask your financial aid or student affairs office.

Real Texas Examples

These are estimates using the October 1, 2026, figures and Texas’s current $445 utility allowance. Your real amount may differ.

Maria, 68, San Antonio. She lives alone and gets $2,300 a month from Social Security. That’s above the $2,195 gross limit. Because she’s over 60, she can still qualify.

• Her costs: $1,300 in rent and $400 a month in medical bills.
• After deductions, her net income is about $832.
• She has $3,000 in savings, under the $4,750 limit.
• Result: She qualifies for about $56 a month.

The Garcia family, Dallas (four people). They earn $54,000 a year, which is $4,500 a month. That’s just under the $4,538 gross limit.

• They own two cars, worth $25,000 and $9,000. Only $2,800 of that value counts.
• With $1,500 in savings, their total resources are $4,300, under the $5,000 limit.
• After rent and childcare, their net income is about $2,112.
• Result: They qualify for about $389 a month.

James, 58, Lubbock. He lost his job and has no children. He has no income and $80 in the bank.

• He likely qualifies for emergency SNAP within seven days.
• Because he’s under 65 with no kids under 14, the time limit applies to him.
• Result: After three months, he needs 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, or training. If a doctor says he can’t work, he’s exempt.

What You Must Report After Approval

Most Texas households only report a few changes between renewals. You must report when:

• Your gross income stays above 130% of the poverty line for two months in a row.
• Work hours drop below 20 a week, if you’re under the time limit rule.

From October 1, 2026, the 130% reporting amounts are:

Household size	Report if income is over
1	$1,729
2	$2,345
3	$2,960
4	$3,575

Your approval letter lists your exact reporting rules. You can report changes at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1.

How Long Approval Takes in 2026

Texas is behind on applications right now. The SNAP backlog grew from about 3,700 in January to more than 150,000 in August. Average waits rose from about 20 days to more than 30.

The standard deadline is 30 days. You can get emergency SNAP within 7 days if:

• Your monthly income is under $150 and you have $100 or less in cash, or
• Your rent and utilities are more than your income and cash combined.

If your case is late, call 2-1-1 and ask about your application status. If you’re denied, you can ask for a fair hearing. Do it within 90 days of your notice.

How to Apply for SNAP in Texas

1. Apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, call 2-1-1, or visit a local HHSC office.
2. Complete your interview. It’s usually done by phone.
3. Send your documents, including ID, pay stubs, and proof of rent and bills.
4. Watch your mail and the app for requests from HHSC.

For the full walkthrough, see our Texas SNAP application guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Texas HHSC: SNAP Income Limits and Deductions (C-120)
• USDA: SNAP FY2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments
• Texas HHSC: SNAP Work Rules
• Texas HHSC: SNAP Food Benefits
• Texas HHSC: Resource Limits (A-1210)

This site is not affiliated with Texas HHSC or USDA. Only HHSC can decide if you qualify.

Think you might qualify? Don’t rule yourself out based on your paycheck alone. Deductions change the math for most families. Run your numbers in our Texas SNAP calculator, then apply at YourTexasBenefits.com.