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Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025 SNAP Eligibility in North Carolina

There are three eligibility tests for SNAP: the Gross Income, the Net Income, and the Asset tests. Depending on your state and whether your household has a member over 60 or with a disability, your household may be exempt from the Gross Income, Net Income, and/or Asset tests.

North Carolina has expanded eligibility beyond the standard federal SNAP eligibility requirements, which is why other websites may display stricter financial eligibility requirements than what you see on this page.

While the Gross Income and Asset tests are straightforward, Net Income is more difficult to calculate. We recommend using our SNAP Eligibility Calculator to see you're income eligible for SNAP benefits.

This information was collected from USDA and state SNAP resources but is not official. This website is not affiliated with any government organization or SNAP/WIC program.

Gross Income Limits

Total monthly household income before taxes, including job, self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker's comp, unemployment, and pension income.
  • For self-employment income, you can subtract your allowable business expenses.
  • For income received more often than once a month, convert your income to monthly by multiplying weekly income by 4.33 and biweekly income by 2.17.
All Households
  • If the household has a member who is 60 or older or has a disability but is over the gross income limit below, the household can instead qualify by meeting the Net Income and Asset tests.
  • 1 person
    $2510 / month
  • 2 people
    $3408 / month
  • 3 people
    $4304 / month
  • 4 people
    $5200 / month
  • 5 people
    $6098 / month
  • 6 people
    $6994 / month
  • 7 people
    $7890 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$898 / month
The gross income limit is 200% of the federal poverty level.

Net Income Limits

Net income is a household's gross income minus deductions.

At the bottom of the page are some of the expenses that can be deducted to calculate net income. It's difficult to calculate net income without a SNAP calculator as the shelter-related expenses (utilities and rent) can only be deducted if they exceed half the household's income after other deductions have been applied. Additionally, there is a limit on the maximum shelter deduction for some households.

SNAP benefit amounts are based on a household's net income. While there are minimum and maximum SNAP benefit amounts, in general $100 more in net income = $30 less in benefits.
  • Households with a member who is 60 or older or has a disability only have to meet this test if they did not pass the Gross Income test above. All other households do not have to meet this test.

    SNAP benefit amounts are based on Net Income. Even if the household passes all the eligibility tests, Net Income may be too high to get a benefit.
  • 1 person
    $1255 / month
  • 2 people
    $1704 / month
  • 3 people
    $2152 / month
  • 4 people
    $2600 / month
  • 5 people
    $3049 / month
  • 6 people
    $3497 / month
  • 7 people
    $3945 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$449 / month
The net income limit is 100% of the federal poverty level.

Asset / Resource Limit

This means countable resources, like funds in bank accounts. A home and vehicles are not counted as resources.

There is no asset limit in North Carolina. If the household has a member who is 60 or older or has a disability and did not meet the Gross Income test above, the household can alternatively qualify under the federal program rules which have an asset limit of $4,500 but no Gross Income limit.

Note: The SNAP application may still ask about your household's assets, even if the asset limit does not apply.
Deduction

Deductions

Households can receive deductions for the following expenses, which all factor into calculating a household's benefit amount.

Shelter expenses (utilities, rent, and homeowners insurance) only apply for the amount that exceeds 50% of the household income after all other deductions and are limited to a maximum amount of $712 if the household does not include a member over 60 or with a disability.
  • fact_checkA standard deduction of $204 (1-3 people), $217 (4 people), $254 (5 people), or $291 (6+ people)
  • badgeA 20% deduction from job or self-employment income (earned income)
  • child_friendlyDependent care costs (including daycare, babysitters, or other child care) needed for work or school
  • escalator_warningCourt-ordered child support payments paid
  • medical_servicesOut of pocket medical expenses for household members over 60 or with a disability (exceeding $35)
  • homeMonthly rent or mortgage amount Shelter Expense
  • cabinMonthly homeowners insurance and taxes Shelter Expense
  • powerUtility allowance for utilities paid (see below) Shelter Expense
  • handshakeIf no permanant residence, a standard homeless shelter allowance of $190
Deduction

Utility Allowances

Households can only receive one utility allowance. If a household qualifies for multiple allowances, choose the highest allowance.

Heating and Cooling: If a household pays utility bills for heating and cooling, or receives over $20 in heating assistance from LIHEAP, this allowance can be claimed.

Basic Utility Allowance: If a household pays for two or more utility bills (including electricity, gas, water, sewage, trash, or telephone), this allowance can be claimed.

Single Utilities: If a household pays for the utility, this allowance can be claimed.
Household Size: 1 person
  • whatshotHeating And Cooling
    $620
  • flash_onBasic Limited Allowance
    $382
  • phonePhone
    $41
Household Size: 2 people
  • whatshotHeating And Cooling
    $681
  • flash_onBasic Limited Allowance
    $420
  • phonePhone
    $41
Household Size: 3 people
  • whatshotHeating And Cooling
    $748
  • flash_onBasic Limited Allowance
    $462
  • phonePhone
    $41
Household Size: 4 people
  • whatshotHeating And Cooling
    $815
  • flash_onBasic Limited Allowance
    $504
  • phonePhone
    $41
Household Size: 5+ people
  • whatshotHeating And Cooling
    $888
  • flash_onBasic Limited Allowance
    $549
  • phonePhone
    $41

Maximum Benefit Amounts

SNAP benefit amounts are based on a household's net income. Our SNAP Eligibility Calculator can give you a dollar estimate of what you could receive in SNAP benefits.
  • 1 person
    $292 / month
  • 2 people
    $536 / month
  • 3 people
    $768 / month
  • 4 people
    $975 / month
  • 5 people
    $1158 / month
  • 6 people
    $1390 / month
  • 7 people
    $1536 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$220 / month
The mimimum benefit for households of one or two people is $23. For larger households, there is no official minimum benefit.
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