Do you qualify for SNAP Food Stamps?



In order to receive SNAP Food Stamps you need to apply, you can get started with how to apply on this website. You can also go to your local SNAP office to receive assistance with your application.

Determining your eligibility for this program will depend on many factors. These include your gross income, your resources and it will depend on the number of people in your household. Your residency and citizenship status will also determine qualification.

U.S. citizens are eligible, but many legal aliens qualify for SNAP Food Stamps too. Those members of a household that are eligible to receive benefits will not be affected by any members of your household that cannot receive benefits. If you would like additional information about immigrant SNAP eligibility please see this website.

Screening for SNAP Food Stamps

Some people would like to prescreen their eligibility prior to apply for SNAP benefits. There are a few ways to do this. Please note, pre-screening is NOT an application, you must separately apply to receive benefits. The USDA provides an online pre-screening tool to help determine if you are eligible for benefits. This tool will also give an estimate of the amount of benefit you may receive. You can access the USDA pre-screening tool here.

If you need assistance in using the USDA's pre-screening tool, a tutorial is available here.

Many states vary on food stamp eligibility criteria, and the only way to determine if you qualify is to find out your state's specific eligibility criteria. Please view the following 'Just the Facts' video about qualifying for SNAP Food Stamps.



Connecticut Eligibility Requirements

In order to determine eligibility for Food Stamps (SNAP) program, applicants can use a screening tool here.

In order to qualify for SNAP benefits the applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a U.S citizens or qualified aliens
  • Must be a resident of Connecticut
  • Must meet income and resource guidelines

Financial Eligibility

Households looking to receive Connecticut Food Stamps (SNAP) benefits will have to meet financial eligibility in addition to clearing standard eligibility requirements.

Households will have to meet the following gross and net income limits:

  • Households must have less than $2,000 in assets to qualify for SNAP
  • Household with a member who is at least 60 years old or disabled the asset limit is $3,250.
  • The gross income limit is set at 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The gross income is total income of the household before tax or other deductions are computed.
  • The net income limit is set at Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

The gross income limit applies to all the households in Connecticut looking to receive SNAP benefits. However, households with a person over 60 or disability don't have to meet gross income limitation. Nevertheless, these households will still have to meet net income limitation in order to receive Food Stamps benefits.

Households will also have to meet assets limits if gross income for the household is more than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Such households can't have asset value above $3250.

Financial Eligibility

Applicants will also have to agree to participate in employment and training related activities. If applicants don't enroll for work and their age is between 18 and 50, they can only receive SNAP benefits for 3 months in three years period.

What is considered a 'Household' for SNAP?

SNAP defines a living unit as household if people are living together, preparing food together and buying food supplies together. In some cases, people living together can be counted as separate households. One such case is an elderly living with others where others have income below poverty level.