Texas SNAP Benefit Calculator

What Is the Texas SNAP Calculator?

The Texas SNAP Calculator on this page estimates your monthly food benefit before you touch an HHSC form.

It mirrors the math a caseworker in Houston, Dallas, or Harlingen would run.

That math includes the 20% earned income deduction, the standard deduction for your household size, and shelter and utility costs.

A final 30% rule closes the calculation. Every step is explained below with real fiscal year 2026 numbers.

SNAP is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the modern name for food stamps.

Texas runs it through the Health and Human Services Commission, better known as HHSC.

Approved benefits land on a Lone Star Card that swipes like a debit card.

It works at H-E-B, Kroger, Walmart, Fiesta, and most grocery stores across the state.

You enter your household size, monthly income, housing costs, and a few expenses.

The tool then shows whether you clear Texas income rules and roughly what you'd receive.

No signup, no email, and no personal identifying information. The math runs entirely in your browser.

How SNAP Works in Texas

Texas SNAP gives low-income households monthly food benefits on a Lone Star Card.

The card works at grocery stores, farmers markets, and a growing list of online retailers.

Approved households receive a set amount each month for the length of their certification period. Most households recertify every six months to keep benefits flowing.

HHSC processes applications statewide under one rulebook. The county you live in does not change your benefit amount.

Texas is one system, not a county patchwork.

Benefit math follows federal USDA tables. The 165% income screen and generous vehicle rules are where Texas diverges.

Those Texas-specific policies make eligibility easier here than in strict federal-only states.

About 3.1 million Texans received SNAP as of April 2026 — roughly one in ten residents.

Payments run from a $24 monthly minimum up to $1,789 for a household of eight.

What's New for Texas SNAP in 2026

If you last checked Texas SNAP rules a year ago, several things have moved. The federal cost-of-living adjustment took effect October 1, 2025.

That COLA raised the maximum benefit for a family of four from $973 to $994 per month.

Every income limit nudged upward too. The Texas gross screen for four people now reads $4,421.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed who must work.

Time limits now reach adults ages 18 through 64 without a child under 14 at home.

Keeping benefits generally takes 20 hours a week of work or approved training.

The old rules stopped at age 54. Thousands of older Texans are now inside the time limit.

Immigration rules narrowed on April 1, 2026. Refugees, asylees, and parolees no longer gain automatic SNAP eligibility.

Lawful permanent residents, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and citizens of the freely associated states remain eligible under existing rules.

The immigrant section below covers this in detail.

The most visible change happened at the checkout line. Effective April 1, 2026, Texas SNAP dollars cannot buy candy or sweetened drinks.

USDA approved that restriction as a two-year waiver in February 2026. The sections below cover each of these changes one by one.

Texas SNAP Eligibility Requirements

Texas checks four main things when you apply: income, residency, work registration, and countable resources.

None of the four is a reason to skip applying.

HHSC runs the full calculation for you. Many households that assume they'll fail actually pass.

Deductions carry more people over the line than any other factor.

1. Income Limits

Texas screens most households at 165% of the federal poverty level for gross income. That means income before any deductions are applied.

A single applicant can earn up to $2,152 per month.

A family of four can earn up to $4,421 before the gross screen ends the application.

The second hurdle is the net income test, which runs after deductions.

It sits at 100% of poverty, and for most households both tests apply.

Households containing someone who is 60 or older or disabled skip the gross test entirely.

They only need to pass the net test — a major advantage for seniors.

One caveat for calculator users: estimates on this site screen against the federal 130% limit.

That's $1,696 for one person and $3,483 for four.

If you land between 130% and 165% but carry real shelter, childcare, or medical costs, apply anyway.

Texas categorical eligibility and the net-income math frequently carry those households to approval.

2. Citizenship and Residency

You must live in Texas and be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. Lawful permanent residents generally qualify after a five-year waiting period.

Certain veterans, active-duty military families, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and citizens of the freely associated states remain eligible too.

The freely associated states are the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.

The April 2026 federal change removed automatic eligibility for refugees, asylees, and parolees. That shift affects some recently arrived households.

Children under 18 who are citizens always qualify on their own status. Mixed-status families can and do apply for them.

The non-applicant parent's information stays confidential. It is not shared with immigration enforcement.

3. Work Requirements

Most adults ages 16 through 59 must register for work. Registration means looking for a job, accepting suitable offers, and not quitting without good cause.

The tougher time limit applies to adults ages 18 through 64 without a child under 14 in the home.

This is the ABAWD rule — able-bodied adults without dependents.

Without at least 80 hours a month of work or training, an ABAWD can receive only three months of benefits in a three-year period.

Texas Workforce Commission programs count toward those hours. They're free to join.

Exemptions are real and common. People with disabilities, pregnant women, seniors, and anyone caring for a child under 6 are excused from the registration baseline.

Workers who lose hours through no fault of their own may qualify for a second three-month window.

Call 2-1-1 before giving up on this rule.

4. Resource Limits

Texas counts up to $5,000 in combined liquid resources and excess vehicle value for categorically eligible households. That covers the overwhelming majority of applicants.

Cash, checking, and savings all count toward that figure. Vehicles get far more generous treatment than most applicants expect.

The fair market value of your highest-valued vehicle is exempt up to $22,500.

Each additional vehicle is exempt up to $8,700. Only the value above those thresholds counts.

A household with $1,800 in the bank and one $18,000 sedan easily clears the test.

Your home, the property it sits on, and most retirement accounts don't count at all.

Households receiving TANF cash assistance or SSI bypass the resource question entirely.

Texas SNAP Income Limits and Benefit Amounts

These are the live HHSC figures effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

The gross column is the 165% Texas screen that applies to most households.

The net column is the deduction-adjusted test every household must pass. Benefit amounts are the FY2026 maximums before your own math changes them.

Each additional person adds $757 to the gross limit, $459 to the net limit, and $218 to the maximum benefit.

Households of one or two members receive at least $24 per month if they pass the tests.

For comparison, the federal 130% screen is $1,696 for a single person and $3,483 for a family of four.

Many national articles still quote that federal figure. Texas deliberately screens higher — don't talk yourself out of applying based on an old chart.

Texas SNAP Deductions That Increase Your Benefit

SNAP doesn't count your full paycheck against your food benefit. HHSC subtracts a stack of deductions from your gross income first.

Every dollar subtracted means more money on your Lone Star Card. Applicants who skip deductions routinely leave benefits on the table.

Claim everything you're entitled to — especially utilities and childcare.

Here are the deductions that matter most, with the exact fiscal year 2026 amounts Texas uses.

How the Math Works: A San Antonio Example

Formulas are easier to trust when you can watch one run.

Here's a realistic San Antonio household worked through the official Texas calculation, step by step.

The household: a single parent with two school-age kids, $2,200 gross wages, $1,150 rent, and separate utility bills.

• Step 1 — Gross test: $2,200 sits under the 165% limit of $3,665 for three people, so the household proceeds.
• Step 2 — Earned income deduction: $2,200 minus 20% leaves $1,760.
• Step 3 — Standard deduction: $1,760 minus $209 for three members leaves $1,551.
• Step 4 — Shelter deduction: rent of $1,150 plus the $445 utility allowance totals $1,595. Half the adjusted income is $775.50, so excess shelter is $819.50 — capped at $744 without a senior or disabled member.
• Step 5 — Net income: $1,551 minus $744 leaves $807, which passes the $2,221 net limit easily.

HHSC then multiplies net income by 30% — $807 × 0.30 = $242.10, rounded up to $243.

That figure is subtracted from the three-person maximum of $785.

This family's estimated benefit is $542 per month. Run your own numbers in the calculator above to see where your household lands.

Two lessons fall out of the example.

Deductions did the heavy lifting — $445 of that result exists purely because the parent claimed utility costs.

And if this parent paid $400 in childcare, the benefit would rise again. Childcare comes straight off net income before the final calculation.

How to Apply for SNAP in Texas

Texas offers three application routes, and all three end at the same HHSC eligibility determination. Most applicants now start online.

The portal saves your progress and lets you upload documents from your phone.

Documents You'll Need

Applications move dramatically faster with paperwork in hand. Gather these before you start:

• Texas ID or driver's license (proof of identity and residency)
• Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
• Pay stubs from the last 30 days, or an employer statement
• Lease or mortgage statement showing your housing cost
• Utility bills, or a statement that you pay heating/cooling separately
• Childcare receipts or a letter from your provider
• Medical bills and Medicare premium statements for members 60+ or disabled
• Immigration documents for non-citizen applicants (only for those seeking benefits)

What Happens After You Apply

Texas has up to 30 days to process a standard SNAP application. Most cases are decided inside that window.

Very low-income households don't have to wait that long.

The law moves them to the front of the line.

Expedited SNAP (7-Day Service)

Households with less than $150 in monthly gross income and no more than $100 in liquid resources qualify for expedited processing.

Benefits reach a Lone Star Card within 7 calendar days.

You still complete the interview and verification later. The food money simply arrives first.

Migrant farmworker households also qualify, as do households with very low income and high immediate shelter costs.

Answer every income question honestly when you apply — the screening is automatic.

The Phone Interview

After you apply, an HHSC worker calls to schedule an interview, usually within the first two weeks.

Most interviews happen by phone and run 20 to 40 minutes.

The worker verifies your answers, asks follow-up questions, and explains your rights and responsibilities.

Missing that call is the single most common reason Texas applications stall.

If you miss it, log in to YourTexasBenefits.com or call 2-1-1 the same day to reschedule.

Receiving Your Lone Star Card

Approved households receive a Lone Star Card by mail within about a week. You activate it with the phone number printed on the back.

Your approval notice also lists an EDG number — hold onto it. That number controls your monthly deposit date for as long as you're certified.

First-month benefits are often prorated from your approval date. The initial deposit can be smaller than a full month.

Full benefits begin with the next monthly cycle on your EDG schedule.

Using Your Texas Lone Star Card

The Lone Star Card works like a debit card at more than 200,000 authorized retailers nationwide.

Swipe, enter your PIN, and the purchase amount comes off your balance.

The store never sees your case details, and there's no fee for using the card.

Texas SNAP Deposit Schedule (2026)

Benefits load on a staggered calendar between the 16th and 28th of each month.

The day is keyed to the last two digits of your EDG number.

Households certified after June 1, 2020 follow this schedule:

EDG endings above 45 wrap back around the same window — 54 through 57, for example, deposits on the 16th.

Households certified before June 2020 may sit on an older 1st–28th schedule.

If your date hasn't arrived by month-end, call 2-1-1. For dates beyond Texas, our state-by-state EBT deposit guide covers all 50 states.

Where to Use Your Lone Star Card

• Grocery stores — H-E-B, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, Fiesta, Food Town, Brookshire Brothers, and most independents
• Big-box retailers with grocery sections, including Target and Sam's Club
• Farmers markets, many of which double your spending through Double Up Food Bucks
• Online at Amazon and Walmart for delivery or pickup, with more USDA-authorized retailers joining
• Some convenience stores and corner markets for staples

Checking Your Balance

Four free options — pick whichever is closest:

• Call the Lone Star Help Desk at 1-800-777-7328
• Log in to YourTexasBenefits.com or the mobile app
• Check the last grocery receipt — the balance prints at the bottom
• Ask at the register before a purchase

Texas SNAP Recertification

SNAP isn't permanent. Texas certifies each household for a fixed period and requires a renewal at the end.

Most households recertify every 6 months.

The process is far lighter than the original application.

Households where every member is 60 or older or disabled can join the Texas Simplified Application Project instead.

TSAP cases carry a 3-year certification period, skip the interview at renewal, and use a shorter form.

For seniors on fixed incomes, that's a meaningful reduction in paperwork.

Expect a renewal packet about 45 days before your period ends.

Complete it, submit any updated documents, and take the short interview if one is required.

Miss the deadline and benefits simply stop. You can reapply immediately, but the clock restarts — so mark the date.

Reporting Changes

Between renewals you must report certain changes within 10 days.

Reportable changes include income passing your household's threshold, people moving in or out, and address changes.

Report through YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1. Unreported income that inflates your benefit becomes an overpayment you have to repay later.

HHSC collects overpayments through reduced future benefits or repayment plans. When in doubt, report it.

SNAP for Special Populations in Texas

SNAP for College Students

Students aged 18 to 49 enrolled at least half-time in higher education face an extra eligibility test. Several exemptions open the door.

Working 20 hours per week, qualifying for work-study, or receiving TANF all exempt a student from the restriction.

So does caring for a child under 6 — or under 12 where childcare is unavailable.

Many Texas campuses — including several UT and A&M system schools — now staff SNAP outreach coordinators.

They pre-screen your schedule and income for free. Ask at student affairs or the financial aid office before assuming you can't qualify.

SNAP for Seniors

Texans 60 and older get the friendliest rules in the program.

No gross income test, an uncapped shelter deduction, and medical expenses beyond $35 deducted from income.

Medicare premiums, prescriptions, and dental bills all count. Many seniors only pass the net test because of this deduction.

If every household member is 60 or older or disabled, apply through the Texas Simplified Application Project.

You'll get the shorter form and a 3-year certification.

Community organizations like the Area Agencies on Aging help seniors gather medical expense documentation for free. Social Security income alone doesn't disqualify anyone.

A senior living on $1,200 a month in benefits with $600 in rent frequently qualifies for a meaningful supplement.

Run the numbers above before deciding it's not worth the paperwork.

SNAP for Immigrants

Lawful permanent residents generally qualify after five years in that status.

The always-eligible list includes certain veterans, active-duty military families, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens.

The April 2026 federal change ended automatic eligibility for refugees, asylees, and parolees.

Households in those categories should check current status with an immigration legal aid organization before counting on SNAP.

Texas runs no separate state food program for immigrants who fall outside federal rules. Undocumented parents can still apply for their U.S. citizen children, though.

The children receive the benefit, and the parent's information stays confidential. It is never shared with immigration enforcement.

SNAP for SSI Recipients

SSI recipients in Texas can receive SNAP on top of their SSI payment, and many do.

The medical deduction and uncapped shelter costs push a lot of SSI-only cases over the line.

You can file a SNAP application at a Social Security office when you apply for SSI. Staff will forward it to HHSC.

Texas SSI households that live alone frequently land between $100 and the $298 single-person maximum each month.

Texas SNAP FAQ — Common Questions

Reaching Texas HHSC

Texas has consolidated many walk-in offices over the last few years. The fastest help usually isn't a lobby visit.

Every SNAP question starts from one of four doors:

Need a physical office? Call 2-1-1 and ask for the nearest HHSC location and its walk-in hours before traveling — many offices now operate appointment-only.

Other Texas Food Assistance Programs

SNAP is the largest food program in Texas, but it's rarely the only one a household can stack.

These programs run alongside SNAP without reducing your benefit:

Common Texas SNAP Myths — Debunked

Thousands of eligible Texans never apply because of myths that refuse to die. Here are the five we hear most.

SNAP in Major Texas Cities

Rules and amounts are identical statewide. The calculator on this page works the same in El Paso and Beaumont.

What changes city to city is the local help available.

SNAP in Houston

Harris County applications route through HHSC Region 6, but nearly everyone applies online or through 2-1-1 first.

The Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the country.

It provides free application assistance across 18 southeast Texas counties.

It serves more than a million people a year, and partner pantries fill gaps between monthly SNAP deposits.

SNAP in Dallas–Fort Worth

Dallas and Tarrant county cases process through HHSC Region 3 with the same 30-day clock as the rest of the state.

The North Texas Food Bank covers 13 counties and helps more than 100,000 households a year.

Tarrant Area Food Bank runs similar programs to the west.

The metro also has one of the densest concentrations of Double Up Food Bucks markets in Texas.

SNAP in San Antonio

Bexar County cases run through Region 8.

The San Antonio Food Bank serves 16 counties, provides free application help, and runs mobile distributions that supplement monthly benefits.

San Antonio's farmers market scene is among the strongest SNAP markets in Texas.

The Pearl farmers market and several neighborhood markets match Lone Star Card spending through Double Up.

SNAP in Austin

Travis County cases process through Region 7. The Central Texas Food Bank covers 21 counties and offers application assistance.

The Sustainable Food Center operates Double Up Food Bucks statewide.

It runs the SFC Farmers Market at Republic Square and several other sites.

Austin-area families can combine SNAP, Double Up matching, and the food bank's produce distributions.

That stack stretches a benefit further than almost anywhere else in the state.

Common Texas SNAP Application Mistakes to Avoid

Most denials and delays trace back to the same handful of fixable errors. Watch for these:

SNAP and Medicaid — Apply Together in Texas

One YourTexasBenefits.com application screens your household for SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF at the same time.

Nothing about applying for food help hurts a pending health coverage case.

They're separate programs sharing one front door.

Texas hasn't expanded Medicaid to childless adults. Parents with very low income, children, and pregnant women often qualify.

SNAP households with kids are frequently approved for both at once.

HHSC will enroll you in whatever you're eligible for and explain anything that was denied.

Free Texas SNAP Application Help

You never need to pay anyone to help with a SNAP application.

The paid "expeditors" who sometimes advertise on social media are a waste of money.

These organizations do the same work for free:

What Can You Buy with SNAP in Texas?

Federal rules cover most foods. As of April 1, 2026, Texas adds its own layer on top of them.

Here's the full picture in three buckets.

What Changes in October 2026: The FY2027 Preview

Federal SNAP figures reset every October 1, and fiscal year 2027 is already on the record. USDA published the new cost-of-living figures in August 2026.

Here's what moves for Texas households this fall:

The federal 130% gross screen rises to $1,729 for one person, plus $616 for each additional member.

The net test at 100% poverty moves to $1,330 plus $474.

Texas' 165% screen rises in step, since HHSC computes it from the same poverty tables.

The standard deduction moves to $217 and the shelter cap to $769.

HHSC publishes Texas' exact 165% table in late September, and this page updates within days. Expect a slightly larger maximum benefit from October 1, 2026.

Texas SNAP — Quick Summary

SNAP helps about 3.1 million Texans buy groceries each month. Benefits run from a $24 minimum up to $1,789 for large households.

Texas screens income at 165% of poverty with a $5,000 resource limit.

Generous vehicle exemptions make eligibility friendlier here than the federal baseline suggests.

Apply at YourTexasBenefits.com or through 2-1-1, and claim every deduction — especially the $445 utility allowance.

Don't miss the interview call. Benefits land on the Lone Star Card between the 16th and 28th of each month based on your EDG number.

If you're denied, appeal within 90 days. If your hours get cut, report it.

Candy and sweetened drinks left the eligible list in April 2026. Produce, protein, and dairy never moved.