SNAP budgeting is complicated compared to budgeting for other means-tested programs. This is the result of an effort to carefully target the benefits to the neediest households. This section guides advocates through the process of estimating the SNAP benefit for which a household might be eligible.
Budget Calculations Are Estimates
All budget calculations should be considered estimates. Many factors can affect each aspect of the budget, and there are an equal number of opportunities for inaccuracies. In particular, reported income used in the calculation may change or may be the applicant’s estimate. Therefore, it is important to emphasize to the applicant that you are providing them with an estimate of the SNAP benefits for which the household may be eligible.
If the allotment ultimately granted by the SNAP office is significantly different, the applicant or advocate should read the budget explanation in the notice of decision carefully to determine where the difference occurred. If the SNAP office has made an error, it should be corrected.
The SNAP budgeting section explains how to determine an estimated SNAP budget and includes an online SNAP Benefits Estimator Calculator.
Reference Documents
Actions To Take Before Calculating a SNAP Budget
Several determinations must be made in the SNAP budgeting process before a budget can be calculated:
- Determine which household members are included/excluded in the SNAP case (non-citizens, students, etc.).
- Determine household composition (mandatory household members, i.e., who purchases and prepares food together).
- Add up all income from earned and unearned sources to determine the household’s gross income.
- Determine if the household is categorically eligible, and if so, which gross income test must be applied.
- Test the income against the correct percentage of poverty for household size. If the household income is below the amount listed, you can start the budgeting process.
To accurately calculate the household’s SNAP budget, you will need the following information:
- Age of household members
- Disability status of household members
- Amount and source of income
- Dependent care costs
- Child support paid
- Medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members
- Shelter costs
- Type of shelter
- Utility costs
Using the SNAP Benefits Estimator Calculator
The SNAP Benefits Estimator Calculator estimates a household’s SNAP benefit. The calculator is divided into three sections: Household Information, Income, and Deductions. Most questions have links to helpful relevant information in this section.
Household Composition
Household composition is important when prescreening for SNAP eligibility because individuals included in a SNAP household must have their income included when determining eligibility and calculating the budget.
A SNAP household is defined as people who:
- Live together, and
- Purchase and prepare the majority of their meals together.
Reference Documents
Mandatory Household Members
Mandatory household members must be included in the SNAP household if they live in the same house, even if they do not purchase and prepare meals together. These include:
- Spouses
- Parents (natural, adoptive or step-parent) and their children under 22
- Children under 18 under parental control of a person other than a parent (see the Household Composition Guide for additional details)
Note: people who are not living together are not part of the same SNAP household, even if they are married or have other legal relationships to each other.
Rules for Those Not Considered Mandatory Household Members
People who are not considered mandatory household members can apply for SNAP as a separate household, as long as they purchase and prepare the majority of their meals separately.
If a person living in the same house or apartment with an applicant is not a member of the applicant’s SNAP household, that person’s income and resources are completely ignored.
See the Household Composition Guide for a step-by-step guide to determining household composition.
Boarders and Foster Care Youth
Boarder: Individual living with others and paying reasonable compensation to the others for meals and lodging. This does not include commercial boarding houses.
Boarders and foster care children may be either included in or excluded from the SNAP household of the landlord or foster parents, at the household’s option.
Boarder (Room and Meals):
- Not a mandatory member of the SNAP household, but may be considered to be a member of a household at the household’s request, (unless residing in a commercial boarding house).
- May never be a separate household under SNAP rules.
- The following can never be considered borders:
- Children under 22 years of age living with their parent(s), including step children.
- A spouse of a member of the household.
- Children under 18 years of age who are under the parental control of an adult member of the household including a sibling.
If a boarder(s) is included in the SNAP household:
- Direct payments to the household for room and meals are counted as self-employment income which is considered earned income.
Roomer (Room, No Meals):
- Not a mandatory member of the SNAP household, and may apply for SNAP as a separate household.
Shared Living (Pays a Share of Shelter Expenses):
- Not a mandatory member of the SNAP household, and may apply for SNAP as a separate household.
Foster Care Youth:
If a foster care child is:
- Included in the SNAP household, foster care income (in excess of allowable, verified, reimbursable expenses) is counted as unearned income.
- Excluded from the SNAP household, foster care income is exempt.
For more information see the LDSS-4314 Household Composition Desk Guide.
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Resources
Homeless Youth
SNAP regulations do not have an age requirement, in most cases, for homeless youth. Any homeless youth under the age of 22 can apply for SNAP as long as they are not residing with their parents and are not under “parental control” of another person. They do not need to be included in a parent’s SNAP case unless they live together. A homeless individual must apply as a household with the other people that they are living with if they regularly buy and prepare the majority of their meals together.
Reference Documents
Joint Custody
In joint custody situations, a child can only receive SNAP as part of one household in any given month.
In situations where both parents are seeking SNAP for the same child, the issue must be resolved between the parents.
SNAP offices should evaluate joint custody situations on a case-by-case basis and take into consideration factors such as parental control and court orders.
When deciding which SNAP household a child will be a part of, the amount of time the child spends with one parent in joint custody situations is not a determining factor.
A child will remain a member of a parent’s SNAP case unless the child no longer resides with that parent on a long-term basis (i.e., summer vacation lasting several months).
Special Rules for People Who Are Severely Disabled and Living With Others
A disabled individual who lives with others might not be able to purchase and prepare their meals because of a severe medical condition. However, that person may still be able to establish separate household status if they fit into one of two groups:
- The majority of the person’s meals are purchased and prepared separately from the people they live with.
- The majority of the person’s meals are not purchased and prepared separately, but the person is both elderly and disabled, and the income of their “housemates” (those purchasing and preparing the food for everyone) does not exceed 165% of the federal poverty level. See the SNAP Standards and Deductions Reference Sheet.
