SNAP Benefit Check
Texas Food Stamp Eligibility Calculator
SNAP Benefit Check is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the USDA or any state government agency. Calculator results are estimates. Official eligibility is determined by the appropriate state agency.
Content last verified September 4, 2026.
This Texas food stamp eligibility calculator estimates your Texas SNAP eligibility and monthly benefit using Texas's actual rules, not a generic federal estimate. Texas administers SNAP through the Health and Human Services Commission. Most Texas households qualify through TANF Non-cash categorical eligibility, which raises the gross income ceiling to 165% of the federal poverty level and removes the net income test for households under that ceiling. Texas's $5,000 resource limit applies to essentially every household, since it is also the entry requirement for this expanded eligibility.
- 1Household
- 2Income
- 3Expenses
- 4Results
Your household
Tell us who's in your household. This determines which income and resource limits apply.
Include everyone you buy and prepare food with. Spouses and most children under 22 must be included even if they eat separately.
Your home, most vehicles, and retirement accounts don't count.
Texas SNAP Income Limits
Most Texas households qualify as categorically eligible if gross monthly income is at or below 165% of the federal poverty level, which also waives the net income test. Texas's $5,000 resource limit applies regardless: it is also the entry requirement for this expanded income eligibility, so households above that resource level do not qualify either way. Households above the 165% ceiling are evaluated under the standard rules: a 130% gross income test (skipped for households with a member age 60 or older or with a disability) and the 100% net income test.
| Household size | Gross monthly limit | Net monthly limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,152 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $2,909 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $3,665 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $4,421 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $5,177 | $3,138 |
| 6 | $5,934 | $3,596 |
| 7 | $6,690 | $4,055 |
| 8 | $7,446 | $4,513 |
Each household member beyond 8 adds $757 to the gross limit and $459 to the net limit.
Texas SNAP Deductions
Texas applies the standard federal deductions used to calculate your net income: a standard deduction based on household size, a 20% deduction on earned income, and a deduction for excess shelter costs. For household members age 60 or older or with a disability, Texas offers a choice: a flat $170 standard medical deduction, or your actual verified medical costs, whichever is higher, both above a $35 threshold.
| Household size | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Household size up to 3 | $209 |
| Household size up to 4 | $223 |
| Household size up to 5 | $261 |
| Household size 6 or more | $299 |
- Excess shelter deduction cap: $744 a month, unless the household has an elderly or disabled member.
- Homeless standard deduction: $199 a month.
- Medical deduction: verified expenses over $35 up to $205 use a flat $170 deduction, for elderly or disabled household members only.
Texas utility allowances
| Utility tier | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Utility Allowance (heating or cooling) | $445 |
| Non-Heating/Cooling Standard | $400 |
| Lower Utility Allowance | $400 |
| Telephone only | $62 |
How to Apply for SNAP in Texas
You can apply for Texas SNAP benefits online through Your Texas Benefits, by phone at 2-1-1, or in person at your local HHSC office. Most Texas SNAP applications are processed within 30 days, and households with very low income or resources can qualify for expedited service with benefits issued within 7 days.
- Apply online
- www.yourtexasbenefits.com
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
- 2-1-1
Texas SNAP Benefit Amounts
Your Texas SNAP benefits are calculated the same way nationally: the maximum monthly allotment for your household size minus 30% of your net income, rounded up to the next dollar. Use this Texas food stamp calculator to see both your estimated eligibility and your estimated monthly benefit amount before you apply.
| Household size | Maximum monthly allotment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
Add $218 for each household member beyond 8. Minimum benefit: $24 a month for households of one or two.
Texas EBT Information
Texas SNAP benefits are issued on the Lone Star Card, an Electronic Benefit Transfer card usable like a debit card at grocery stores and other authorized retailers across the state.
Texas SNAP Offices and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions About SNAP in Texas
Does Texas have an asset (resource) limit for SNAP?
Texas has a $5,000 limit on countable resources that applies to nearly every household, whether or not the household includes a member age 60 or older or with a disability. This same $5,000 figure is also the entry requirement for Texas's TANF Non-cash categorical eligibility, so it isn't waived by qualifying for that program -- what categorical eligibility actually changes is the income side: a higher 165% gross income ceiling and no separate net income test.
Does Texas use broad based categorical eligibility?
Yes, through Texas's TANF Non-cash (TANF-NC) program. To qualify, a household must first meet TANF-NC's own $5,000 resource limit -- the same figure as Texas's standard SNAP asset limit -- and have gross income at or below 165% of the federal poverty level. Once qualified, the net income test is skipped, but the $5,000 resource limit still applies either way.
Does Texas offer a standard medical deduction?
Yes. For household members age 60 or older or with a disability, Texas lets you choose between a flat $170 standard medical deduction or your actual verified medical costs, both applied above a $35 monthly threshold.
What utility allowances does Texas use?
Texas has a Standard Utility Allowance for households with heating or cooling costs, a Basic Utility Allowance for any other utility expense, and a telephone standard for phone-only households. A household receives whichever one it qualifies for, not a combination, and Texas does not allow deducting actual utility costs instead.
How is my Texas SNAP benefit calculated?
Texas subtracts 30% of your net monthly income, rounded up to the next dollar, from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.
Official Sources
- 1 Tex. Admin. Code 372.410, Allowable Deductions from Countable Income in SNAP from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Last verified September 4, 2026
- Texas Works Handbook A-1340, Income Limits from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Last verified September 4, 2026
- Texas Works Handbook B-470, Categorically Eligible Households from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Last verified September 4, 2026
- Texas Works Handbook C-120/C-121, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), effective October 1, 2025. Last verified September 4, 2026