United States Department of Agriculture 

Characteristics of Supplemental 

Nutrition Assistance Program 

Households: Fiscal Year 2016 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Report No. SNAP-17-CHAR 

Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series 

Office of Policy Support 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 
November 2017

Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program

Report No. SNAP-17-CHAR

 

Characteristics of Supplemental 

Nutrition Assistance Program 

Households: Fiscal Year 2016

Author:

Sarah Lauffer

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Mathematica Policy Research Office of Policy Support

1100 1st Street NE, 12th Floor USDA, Food and Nutrition Service

Washington, DC 20002-4221 3101 Park Center Drive, Suite 1014

. Alexandria, VA 22302-1500

Project Director: Karen Cunnyngham Project Officer: Jenny Genser

This study was conducted under Contract Number AG-3198-K-17-0005 with the Food and 

Nutrition Service.

This report is available on the Food and Nutrition Service website: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/ops/research-and-analysis.

Suggested Citation:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, 

Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2016, 

by Sarah Lauffer. Project Officer, Jenny Genser. Alexandria, VA, 2017. 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Sarah Lauffer of Mathematica Policy Research prepared this report for the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Office of Policy Support. Many individuals 

made important contributions to this report. The author thanks Karen Cunnyngham, Joshua 

Leftin, Kelsey Farson Gray, and Jacqueline Kauff for providing guidance and reviewing the 

report; Alma Vigil, Katherine Bencio, and Joel Smith for providing programming support; and

Kimberly Ruffin and Stephanie Barna for preparing the manuscript. The author also thanks 

Jenny Genser, Kathryn Law, Barbara Murphy, Amal Deria, Catherine Benvie, Andrew Burns, 

Kameron Burt, Brenda Castro, Mary Rose Conroy, Jane Duffield, Leigh Gantner, Sasha GerstenPaal, Sarah Goldberg, Arthur Hoffman, Sarah Hughes, Michelle Johnson-Weider, Clay Jones, 

Eliot Kriviski, Jessica Luna, Yameche Madry, Nick Manthos, Solomon Mezbegu, Susan 

Modine, Tamieka Muns, Nadine Nichols, Morris Olitsky, Dilson Oliveira, Christina Palazzolo, 

Miles Patrie, Karen Patyk, Shamon Studmire, Lisa Tarrant-Gilbert, and Tom Tinnin of FNS for 

providing guidance and program information. 

November 2017 

Author: Sarah Lauffer

Mathematica Project Director: Karen Cunnyngham

Mathematica Project Number: 50400.500

FNS Project Officer: Jenny Genser

FNS Contract Number: AG-3198-K-17-0005

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... XV

SNAP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS ................................................................................................................xv

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS AND PARTICIPANTS....................................................................xv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ..........................................................................................................3

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS...........................................................................................................3

The Household .........................................................................................................................................3

Categorical Eligibility ..............................................................................................................................4

Income Eligibility Standards....................................................................................................................4

Resources.................................................................................................................................................6

Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards...........................................................................................................6

APPLICATION PROCEDURES .............................................................................................................................8

BENEFIT COMPUTATION...................................................................................................................................8

SSI Combined Application Project (SSI-CAP) Households....................................................................9

Minnesota Family Investment Program Households (MFIP)................................................................. 10

SNAP BENEFIT ISSUANCE..............................................................................................................................10

PROGRAM CHANGES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR..............................................................................10

THE ECONOMY AND SNAP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS ................................................................................10

CHAPTER 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS AND 

PARTICIPANTS..........................................................................................................................13

THE POVERTY STATUS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS.............................................................................................13

HOUSEHOLDS WITH GREATER NEEDS ............................................................................................................14

Households with Children......................................................................................................................14

Households with Elderly Individuals.....................................................................................................16

Households with Non-Elderly Individuals with Disabilities..................................................................16

OTHER HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY SNAP .......................................................................................................17

Single-Person Households......................................................................................................................21

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP PARTICIPANTS..................................................................................................21

CHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS...............................................................23

ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS ...........................................................................................25

vii
APPENDIX A DETAILED TABLES OF SNAP HOUSEHOLD 

CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................................35

APPENDIX A FOOTNOTES.......................................................................................................................69

APPENDIX B DETAILED TABLES OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS BY STATE ....................75

APPENDIX B FOOTNOTES .......................................................................................................................95

APPENDIX C FISCAL YEAR 2016 SNAP PARAMETERS.................................................99

APPENDIX D SOURCE AND RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES ......................................105

APPENDIX E SAMPLING ERROR OF ESTIMATES .......................................................113

APPENDIX F DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT ........................................................123

INDEX .........................................................................................................................................129

viii
TABLES

REPORT

2.1 Major economic indicators, calendar years 2001 to 2016 .................................................12

3.1 Distribution of households and their benefits by countable income as a percentage 

of Federal poverty guidelines.............................................................................................15

3.2 Household receipt of countable income types by household composition ........................18

3.3 Percentage of households with countable income types by household composition.........19

3.4 Average values of selected characteristics by household composition .............................20

3.5 SNAP benefits of participants by selected demographic characteristics ...........................22

3.6 Nominal and real values of selected characteristics, fiscal year 2015 and fiscal 

year 2016 ............................................................................................................................23

APPENDIX A

SUMMARY CHARATERISTICS

A.1 Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by household 

characteristic ......................................................................................................................37

A.2 Average income as a percentage of poverty guidelines, gross and net countable 

income, total deduction, SNAP benefit, household size, and certification period of 

participating households by household characteristic ........................................................38

INCOME, POVERTY STATUS, AND RESOURCES

A.3 Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and 

non-elderly individuals with disabilities by household characteristic ...............................39

A.4 Distribution of participating households by household size and amount of 

countable gross and net income, resources, and gross and net income as a 

percentage of poverty guidelines .......................................................................................40

A.5 Average gross and net countable income, average gross, and net countable income 

as a percentage of poverty guidelines, average countable resources, and average 

benefit of participating households by household composition and size ...........................41

A.6 Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and 

non-elderly individuals with disabilities by type of countable income .............................42

A.7 Average income, total deduction, SNAP benefit, and household size of 

participating households by type of countable income ......................................................43

A.8 Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and 

non-elderly individuals with disabilities by countable earned and unearned 

income amounts .................................................................................................................44

ix
APPENDIX A (continued) 

SNAP DEDUCTIONS

A.9 Distribution of participating households by type of deduction and household 

composition, countable income source, and SNAP benefit amount ..................................46

A.10 Average values of deductions of participating households by household 

composition, countable income source, and SNAP benefit amount ..................................47

A.11 Distribution of participating households by selected household characteristics and 

amount of deduction ..........................................................................................................48

SNAP BENEFIT

A.12 Distribution of participating households by selected household characteristics and 

SNAP benefit amount, SNAP benefit as a percentage of the maximum benefit, 

and certification period ......................................................................................................50

HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

A.13 Distribution of participating households by type of most recent action and 

expedited service ................................................................................................................51

A.14 Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by household 

composition ........................................................................................................................52

A.15 Average gross countable income as a percentage of poverty guidelines, gross and 

net countable income, total deduction, SNAP benefit, household size, and 

certification period of participating households by household composition .....................53

A.16 Distribution of participating households by countable income type and household 

composition ........................................................................................................................54

A.17 Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and 

non-elderly individuals with disabilities by selected characteristics .................................55

A.18 Average values of selected characteristics for participating households with 

children, elderly individuals, and nonelderly individuals with disabilities .......................57

A.19 Distribution of participating households with countable earned and unearned 

income by selected characteristics .....................................................................................58

A.20 Average values of selected characteristics for participating households with 

countable earned and unearned income .............................................................................59

A.21 Distribution of participating households with selected household characteristics 

by race and Hispanic status of household head .................................................................60

A.22 Distribution of participating households by presence of a household member with 

selected characteristics .......................................................................................................61

x 
APPENDIX A (continued) 

PARTICIPANTS

A.23 Gender and SNAP benefits of participants by selected demographic 

characteristics .....................................................................................................................62

A.24 Distribution of participants by Thrifty Food Plan gender-age groups and 

household size ....................................................................................................................63

A.25 Distribution of household heads, all participants, and non-elderly adult 

participants by work registration status and employment status .......................................64

COMPARISONS; FISCAL YEARS 1989 TO 2016 

A.26 Comparison of participating households with key SNAP household characteristics 

for fiscal years 1989 to 2016 ..............................................................................................65

A.27 Comparison of average nominal and real values of key SNAP household 

characteristics for fiscal years 1989 to 2016 ......................................................................66

A.28 Comparison of number of SNAP participants by gender and age for fiscal years 

1989 to 2016 ......................................................................................................................67

APPENDIX B

B.1 Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by State ....................77

B.2 Average values of selected characteristics by State ...........................................................78

B.3 Distribution of participating households by poverty status and by State...........................79

B.4 Distribution of participating households by shelter-related characteristics and by 

State....................................................................................................................................80

B.5 Distribution of participating households by household composition and by State ............81

B.6 Distribution of participating households by selected countable income sources and 

by State...............................................................................................................................82

B.7 Average values of selected countable income sources by State ........................................83

B.8 Distribution of participating households by earnings-related characteristics and by 

State....................................................................................................................................84

B.9 Distribution of entrant households with and without expedited service by State ..............85

B.10 Distribution of participating households by race and Hispanic status of household 

head and by State ...............................................................................................................86

B.11 Distribution of participating households by use of standard utility allowance and 

by State...............................................................................................................................87

B.12 Distribution of participating categorically eligible households by public assistance 

status and by State ..............................................................................................................88

B.13 Distribution of participating households by poverty status and by State, and effect 

of SNAP benefits on the poverty status of SNAP households...........................................89

xi 
APPENDIX B (continued)

B.14 Distribution of participants by age and by State ................................................................90

B.15 Distribution of participants by disability status and by State ............................................91

B.16 Distribution of participants by citizenship status and by State ..........................................92

B.17 Distribution of noncitizen participants by age and by State ..............................................94

APPENDIX C

C.1 2015 HHS poverty income guidelines .............................................................................101

C.2 SNAP maximum allowable gross monthly income eligibility standards in fiscal 

year 2016 ..........................................................................................................................101

C.3 SNAP maximum allowable net monthly income eligibility standards in fiscal year 

2016..................................................................................................................................102

C.4 Value of standard SNAP deductions and maximum excess shelter expense 

deductions in the contiguous United States and outlying areas in fiscal year 2016 ........102

C.5 Value of maximum monthly SNAP benefit in the contiguous United States and 

outlying areas in fiscal year 2016 ....................................................................................103

C.6 Value of minimum monthly SNAP benefit in the contiguous United States and 

outlying areas in fiscal year 2016 ....................................................................................103

APPENDIX D

D.1 Number and percentage of cases sampled, dropped from the edited file, and 

included in the edited file .................................................................................................108

D.2 Unweighted distribution of participating households by State ........................................109

D.3 Comparison of program data to edited SNAP QC data file .............................................110

D.4 Comparison of calculated and reported values for selected variables of 

participating households ..................................................................................................111

APPENDIX E

E.1 Standard errors of estimated numbers of SNAP households ...........................................119

E.2 Square root of design effects (d) for standard errors of estimated numbers or 

percentages of SNAP households ....................................................................................120

E.3 Standard errors of estimated means .................................................................................121

E.4 Range of standard errors of mean amounts expressed as a percentage of the mean 

amount..............................................................................................................................122

xii 
FIGURES

2.1 SNAP participants, unemployed individuals, individuals in poverty, and 

individuals at or below 130 percent of poverty, calendar years 1985 to 2016 ..................11

3.1 Effect of SNAP benefits on the poverty status of SNAP households ................................15

xiii 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves as the foundation of 

America’s nutrition assistance safety net. It is the nation’s first line of defense against food 

insecurity and offers a powerful tool to improve nutrition among low-income individuals. SNAP 

is the largest of the domestic nutrition assistance programs administered by the Food and 

Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This report describes 

the characteristics of SNAP households and participants nationwide in fiscal year 2016 (October 

2015 through September 2016). It also presents an overview of SNAP eligibility requirements 

and benefit levels in fiscal year 2016. The appendices provide detailed tabulations of household 

and participant characteristics at the national and State levels, as well as a review of the source 

and reliability of estimates and the sampling error associated with the estimates presented in the 

report.

SNAP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS

During fiscal year 2016, SNAP provided benefits to approximately 44.2 million people 

living in 21.8 million households each month across the United States. The total Federal cost of 

the program in fiscal year 2016 was $70.9 billion, $66.5 billion of which went to SNAP benefits 

and the remainder to program administration. The average monthly SNAP benefit across all 

participating households in fiscal year 2016 was $255.1

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS AND PARTICIPANTS

SNAP plays an important role in lifting individuals out of poverty. As measured by the 

Federal poverty guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 

approximately 82 percent of SNAP households lived in poverty in fiscal year 2016. Forty percent 

of SNAP households had gross incomes less than or equal to half of the poverty guidelines; these 

households received 56 percent of all benefits. When the value of SNAP benefits is included as 

income, 10 percent of SNAP households would move above the poverty guidelines, and 12 

percent would move from below half to above half of the poverty guidelines. 

The average SNAP household had gross monthly income of $814, and had net monthly 

income of $374. SNAP households receive income from a variety of sources. Thirty-two percent 

of SNAP households had earned income, 21 percent received Supplemental Security Income 

(SSI), 27 percent received Social Security income (a 2 percentage point increase from fiscal year 

2015), 9 percent received Child Support Enforcement payments, 5 percent received support from 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 3 percent received State General Assistance 

(GA) benefits, and 1 percent received unemployment income. Twenty percent of SNAP 

households had zero gross income in fiscal year 2016, down 2 percentage points from 22 percent 

in fiscal year 2015, and 37 percent had zero net income, down from 40 percent in fiscal year 

2015. 

1 These data are based on FNS administrative records. Participant counts and benefit costs derived from the SNAP 

Quality Control (SNAP QC) sample file differ slightly (see Appendix D for an explanation of the differences). The 

remainder of this summary presents data derived from the SNAP QC.

xv 

 
SNAP households vary in composition, but often include a child, elderly individual, or an 

individual with a disability. In fiscal year 2016, average household size was 2.0 people. Seventyeight percent of SNAP households included a child, an elderly individual, or an individual with a 

disability; these households received 84 percent of all benefits. Households with children 

received an average monthly SNAP benefit of $388, reflecting their larger average household 

size. The average household with children had 3.2 people, compared with an average of 1.1 

people for households without children. A majority (58 percent) of SNAP households with 

children were single-adult households. Only 12 percent of these single-adult households with 

children received cash benefits from TANF. More than half (55 percent) of all SNAP households 

with children had earned income; 46 percent of single-adult households with children and 

67 percent of multiple-adult households with children had earned income. Three percent of all 

households with children had both TANF and earned income. 

Households with elderly individuals received an average monthly SNAP benefit of $124, 

reflecting their smaller-than-average size (1.2 people) and higher-than-average income compared 

to other SNAP participants. Households with elderly individuals had an average gross income of 

$893, compared to $792 for households without elderly individuals. Eighty-two percent of SNAP 

households with elderly individuals consisted of an elderly individual living alone. These 

individuals received an average monthly benefit of $106, compared with an average monthly 

benefit of $208 for households with elderly individuals not living alone and $284 for households 

without any elderly individuals. 

In fiscal year 2016, nearly two-thirds of all SNAP participants were either children (44 

percent), elderly adults (12 percent), or non-elderly adults with disabilities (9 percent). Over half 

(57 percent) of all participants, and nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of all adult participants, were 

female. More than two-thirds (70 percent) of children were school age (age 5 to 17). 

xvi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a central component of the 

nation’s nutrition assistance safety net. SNAP’s stated purpose is to “permit low-income 

households to obtain a more nutritious diet... by increasing their purchasing power” (Food and 

Nutrition Act of 2008). SNAP is the largest of the domestic nutrition assistance programs 

administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). According to FNS administrative records, during fiscal year 2016, SNAP served an 

average of 44.2 million people during each month, at a total annual cost of $70.9 billion, $66.5 

billion of which went to SNAP benefits.2

SNAP is available to all individuals who meet the Federal eligibility guidelines set by 

Congress, and serves a broad demographic spectrum of the needy population. It provides benefits 

electronically via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which may be redeemed for eligible 

food items.3

 As of September 30, 2016, 260,115 stores across the nation were authorized to 

accept SNAP benefits.

Federal, State, and local governments share the administration and costs of SNAP. Congress 

authorizes the program and appropriates necessary funds. USDA establishes SNAP regulations 

under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended through Public Law 113-128. FNS 

administers SNAP nationally, and State or local welfare agencies operate the program locally.

The Federal government fully funds SNAP benefits. The cooperating agencies share 

administrative costs, with FNS paying approximately 50 percent of these expenses. 

Using SNAP household data collected for quality control (QC) purposes, FNS publishes 

reports detailing characteristics of the SNAP population and uses the data for additional analyses. 

This report, the latest in an annual series that dates back to 1976, presents a picture of households 

and individuals participating in SNAP in fiscal year 2016. The report draws on data for 

participating households eligible for SNAP under normal program rules, and thus does not 

include information about those who were issued benefits mistakenly nor those who received 

disaster assistance.

4

In Chapter 2, we provide an overview of SNAP, including the regulations used to determine 

eligibility and benefits and how factors like national economic trends affect program 

participation and costs. In Chapter 3, we describe the characteristics of households and 

individuals participating in SNAP in fiscal year 2016. We present detailed national tables of 

SNAP household characteristics in Appendix A, and detailed State-by-State tables of SNAP 

household characteristics in Appendix B. Appendix C contains the fiscal year 2016 SNAP 

2 The total cost of SNAP in fiscal year 2016 included $4.4 billion in other costs, including the Federal share of State 

administrative costs, nutrition education, Employment and Training programs, benefit and retailer redemption and 

monitoring, payment accuracy monitoring, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems, and program evaluation and 

modernization efforts, as well as pilot projects that pertain to program access, health, and nutrition.

3 Households cannot use SNAP benefits to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, pet food, hot food, and 

any food sold for on-premise consumption.

4 FNS coordinates with State, local, and volunteer organizations to provide food to those affected by storms, 

earthquakes, floods, or other disaster emergencies. About 30,600 people received disaster assistance at some time 

during fiscal year 2016. This number was calculated internally by Mathematica based on information provided by 

FNS, individual State reports, and direct contact with States. See Appendix D for more information on adjustments 

made to the data used for this report. 

1 

 
eligibility standards and maximum benefit amounts. In Appendix D, we provide a detailed 

explanation and evaluation of the source and reliability of the estimates in this report. This is 

followed by a discussion of estimate sampling error in Appendix E. The instrument used to 

collect SNAP QC data that form the basis of this report appears in Appendix F.

2 
CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The characteristics of SNAP households and the level of SNAP participation change over 

time in response to economic and demographic trends and legislative alterations to SNAP. In this 

chapter, we explain SNAP eligibility requirements, application procedures, benefit computation, 

and benefit issuance. This chapter concludes with a summary of how program participation and 

costs were related to the economy in fiscal year 2016. 

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) reauthorized SNAP in February 2014. 

This legislation largely maintained the basic eligibility guidelines as previously defined under the 

Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, contains the 

uniform national eligibility standards for SNAP, which were originally developed in the Food 

Stamp Act of 1977. These standards define a SNAP household and categories of households 

eligible for benefits. They also establish gross and net income limits, a resource limit, and 

various nonfinancial criteria for eligibility. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, 

provides higher income limits for certain high-cost areas, such as Alaska and Hawaii, and for 

households with elderly or disabled members and includes exceptions to the eligibility criteria 

for individuals who are categorically eligible (as defined in sections below).5

 

The Household

Under SNAP rules, a household is defined as individuals who live together and customarily 

purchase and prepare food together. Generally, individuals who live together in a residential unit 

but do not purchase and prepare food together may apply as separate household units; their 

incomes and countable resources are considered separately in eligibility and benefit 

determinations. However, spouses living together must apply together and parents must apply 

together with their children under age 22 who reside with them, even if the children have spouses 

or children of their own. Individuals who are elderly and cannot purchase and prepare food 

because of a substantial disability may apply as separate households from those with whom they 

reside as long as the gross monthly income of the remainder of their residential unit is less than 

165 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines.6

 The incomes and countable resources of 

household members applying together for SNAP are aggregated to determine the household’s 

eligibility and benefits.

5 A person is considered to be elderly for SNAP eligibility purposes if he or she is age 60 or older. Generally, a 

person is considered to be disabled for SNAP eligibility purposes if he or she receives Federal or State disability or 

blindness payments or other disability retirement benefits from a government agency under the Social Security Act, 

including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security disability or blindness payments; receives an 

annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act and is (1) eligible for Medicare or (2) considered to be disabled based on 

SSI rules; is a veteran who is totally disabled, permanently housebound, or in need of regular aid and attendance; or 

is permanently disabled and receiving veterans’ benefits as a surviving spouse or child of a veteran.

6 The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) establishes the Federal poverty 

guidelines annually for many assistance programs. See Appendix C for a list of the 2015 poverty guidelines.

3 

 
Categorical Eligibility

Certain households that meet the eligibility requirements for other programs are considered 

categorically eligible for SNAP. Categorical eligibility policies simplify the process of SNAP 

application and eligibility determination. Eligibility standards for these households are partly 

based on the assistance program that confers categorical eligibility for SNAP. Categorically 

eligible households must still meet SNAP’s non-financial criteria. In addition, benefits for 

categorically eligible households are determined under the same rules that apply to other eligible 

SNAP households. Accordingly, some categorically eligible households do not qualify for a 

SNAP benefit. 

Households in which all members are authorized to receive Supplemental Security Income 

(SSI), General Assistance (GA), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), known 

as pure public assistance (PA) households, are categorically eligible for SNAP. In some States, 

households that participate in narrowly targeted, noncash TANF-funded programs, such as work 

support, child care, diversion assistance, transportation, and other in-kind assistance, may also be 

categorically eligible for SNAP.

States may also adopt broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) policies. Through this 

option, States can chose to provide a noncash TANF-funded benefit to confer categorical 

eligibility for SNAP upon a broader number of households. States have flexibility in choosing 

the noncash TANF program that confers SNAP eligibility. These programs often have income 

limits above 130 percent of poverty (but no higher than 200 percent) and no net income test. In 

addition, most TANF programs that confer BBCE do not include a resource test. However, five 

States (Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas) used TANF programs to confer BBCE 

with resource limits between $5,000 and $25,000 in all or part of fiscal year 2016.7 In fiscal year 

2016, 42 States and territories (including the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) 

had a BBCE policy in effect.

Income Eligibility Standards

Monthly income is the most important determinant of a household’s SNAP eligibility. Most 

households not categorically eligible must meet two income eligibility standards: (1) gross 

income and (2) net income.8

 As defined in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, 

gross income includes most cash income (with the exception of specific types of income, such as 

loans) and excludes most noncash income or in-kind benefits (such as energy assistance 

payments and educational loans in which payment is deferred). To be eligible for SNAP, a 

household not categorically eligible and not including an elderly member or individual with a 

disability must have a monthly gross income that is at or below 130 percent of the Federal 

poverty guidelines ($2,628 per month for a family of four in the contiguous United States in 

fiscal year 2016). Households with elderly members or individuals with disabilities are not 

subject to the gross income standard. All households that are not categorically eligible must have 

a monthly net income at or below 100 percent of the poverty guidelines ($2,021 for a family of 

7 Maine’s resource limit went into effect on November 1, 2015.

8 Individuals participating in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or an SSI-Combined Application 

Project (SSI-CAP) are subject to different eligibility and benefit determination rules, as described later in this 

chapter.

4 

 
four in the contiguous United States in fiscal year 2016). The gross and net income eligibility 

standards vary by household size and for residents of Alaska and Hawaii (Appendix C). 

In addition to being used to determine income eligibility for some households, net income is 

used to determine monthly SNAP benefit amounts for all households. Net income is calculated 

by subtracting deductions permitted under SNAP from monthly gross income. SNAP deducts the 

following from a household’s gross monthly income to arrive at net monthly income:9

• Standard deduction. Households receive a standard deduction based on location 

and household size. In fiscal year 2016, a household with one to three members 

living in the contiguous United States received a $155 deduction; larger households 

received a larger standard deduction based on household size. The standard 

deductions for outlying States and territories vary due to differences in the cost of 

living between such areas and the contiguous United States (Appendix C). The 

standard deductions are indexed annually to inflation. 

• Earned income deduction. Households with earnings receive a deduction equal to 

20 percent of the combined earnings of household members. 

• Dependent care deduction. Households with dependents receive a deduction for 

out-of-pocket costs for the care of children and other dependents while other 

household members work, seek employment, or attend school. 

• Medical expense deduction. Households receive a medical expense deduction if 

they have either an elderly member or an individual with a disability who has 

medical expenses. In most States, such households may deduct combined out-ofpocket medical costs that exceed $35 per month and are incurred on behalf of elderly 

household members or household members with disabilities. In fiscal year 2016, 

18 States had medical deduction demonstration programs that used standard 

deduction amounts for households with medical expenses exceeding $35 but below a 

specified limit.10 Medical expenses reimbursed by insurance or government 

programs are not deductible in any State. 

• Child support payment deduction. Households may deduct legally obligated child 

support payments made to or for a non-household member. States may choose to 

exclude child support payments from gross income rather than treat them as a 

deduction. 

• Excess shelter expense deduction. Households are entitled to a deduction equal to 

shelter costs (such as rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, property taxes, and 

insurance) that exceed 50 percent of the household’s countable income after all other 

potential deductions are subtracted from gross income. Instead of using actual utility 

costs, many States use Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to calculate a 

household’s total shelter expense. The maximum excess shelter expense deduction in 

the contiguous United States for households without elderly members or individuals 

9 The amount of deductions to which a household is entitled―the household’s deduction entitlement―is not always 

equal to the amount used to compute SNAP benefits. Because net income may not be less than zero, households 

with total deductions greater than their gross income may claim only a portion of their deduction entitlement.

10 For detailed information on these demonstrations, see Technical Documentation for the Fiscal Year 2016 SNAP 

QC Database and QC Minimodel (Vigil et al., 2017). Available at https://host76.mathematica-mpr.com/fns/. 

5 

 
with disabilities was $504 in fiscal year 2016. The amount is annually indexed to 

inflation. The limits on the excess shelter expense deduction for outlying States and 

territories vary due to differences in the cost of living between such areas and the 

contiguous United States (Appendix C). Households with elderly members or 

individuals with disabilities, however, are allowed to subtract the full value of shelter 

costs that exceed 50 percent of their adjusted income. Some States also allow 

homeless households a deduction of $143 for shelter costs. 

Resources

Another determinant of SNAP eligibility is a household’s resources. As stipulated in the 

Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, the resource limits are indexed to inflation, 

rounded down to the nearest $250 increment. In fiscal year 2016, households not categorically 

eligible were permitted up to $2,250 in countable resources or up to $3,250 if at least one

household member was elderly or had a disability. Countable resources include cash, resources 

easily converted to cash (such as money in checking or savings accounts, savings certificates, 

stocks and bonds, and lump-sum payments), and some non-liquid resources. Some types of 

resources are not counted, such as retirement and educational savings accounts, family homes, 

tools of a trade, or business property used to earn income. 

Vehicles are counted as resources with some exceptions. Licensed vehicles used as homes, 

to produce earned income, to transport household members with physical disabilities, or to 

transport fuel or water are excluded from the resource test, along with vehicles whose sale would 

net less than $1,500. For one non-excluded licensed vehicle per adult household member and any 

other vehicle used by household members under age 18 to drive to work or school, the amount of 

the vehicle’s fair market value over $4,650 is counted toward the resource limit. For the 

remaining licensed vehicles, the greater of the vehicle’s fair market value over $4,650 or the 

equity value is counted.11 For non-excluded unlicensed vehicles, the vehicle’s equity value is 

counted. 

To make it easier for low-income workers to maintain reliable transportation while receiving 

SNAP benefits, States may align their SNAP vehicle policy with rules from a TANF- or 

Maintenance of Effort-funded assistance program if these rules are not more restrictive than 

Federal SNAP rules. In fiscal year 2016, over half of all States and territories had adopted rules 

that exclude all vehicles from the resource test, and most others adopted rules that exclude the 

value of additional vehicles. 

Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards

The program’s nonfinancial eligibility standards restrict the participation of strikers, 

individuals who are institutionalized, fleeing felons, drug felons, unauthorized immigrants, 

nonimmigrant visitors to the United States, certain students, and some lawful, permanent resident 

noncitizens. 

The following groups of lawful, permanent resident noncitizens are eligible for SNAP 

benefits:

11 The equity of a vehicle is defined as its fair market value minus remaining liens.

6 

 
• Those who have lived legally in the United States for five years or more from the date 

of entry 

• Children under age 18 

• Blind or disabled individuals receiving government benefits for their condition

• Noncitizens who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, or dependents of a 

service member or veteran

• Lawful permanent residents with 40 qualifying quarters of work history 

• Individuals who were age 65 or older and lawfully residing in the United States on 

August 22, 1996 

• Individuals admitted as refugees or granted asylum or a stay of deportation 

Many SNAP participants age 16 to 59 are subject to the program’s general work 

requirements, which include registering for work, accepting suitable employment if offered, not 

voluntarily quitting a job or reducing work hours, and participating in an employment and 

training program if referred to one by the State agency. Working age participants are subject to 

these requirements unless they are in one of the following exempt groups: 

• Individuals determined to be mentally or physically unfit for employment 

• Individuals employed 30 or more hours per week 

• Individuals responsible for the care of a dependent child under age 6 or an 

incapacitated person

• Students enrolled at least half time in a school, training program, or institution of 

higher education

• Individuals complying with work requirements of TANF assistance programs 

• Individuals receiving unemployment compensation 

• Individuals participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment program 

In addition, SNAP participants who are subject to the general SNAP work requirements and 

are (1) age 18 to 49, (2) residing in a SNAP household without children, and (3) not pregnant are 

generally subject to time-limited benefits unless they fulfill additional work requirements. 

Specifically, these individuals are restricted to 3 months of SNAP benefits in any 36-month 

period, unless they work or participate in qualifying education and training activities at least 20 

hours per week or comply with a workfare program.12 Participants are exempt from the time 

limit if they live in a waived area or have been granted a discretionary exemption by the State. 

States may apply for a waiver from the time limit in geographic areas, including the entire State 

if applicable, if (1) the area has an unemployment rate that exceeds 10 percent or (2) the State 

can demonstrate using other economic criteria that the proposed waiver area has an insufficient 

number of jobs to provide employment. States are allowed to provide discretionary exemptions 

for up to 15 percent of their SNAP caseload subject to the time limit.

12 Workfare participants can do unpaid work through a special State-approved program. For workfare participants, 

the amount of time worked depends on the amount of benefits received each month.

7 

 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES

In general, when a household applies for SNAP benefits, State agencies are required to 

conduct an interview at initial certification and at least once every 12 months thereafter. 

Although all SNAP applicants have the option to appear in person for the interview, States can 

apply for waivers that allow interviews to be conducted by telephone or online. In fiscal year 

2016, all States and territories except North Dakota and the Virgin Islands were granted 

statewide waivers for face-to-face interviews with applicants. In addition, 42 States offered 

statewide online applications, while 29 States allowed SNAP participants to recertify or renew 

their benefits online. All States must allow individuals to apply for SNAP benefits when they

apply for TANF or SSI benefits. 

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, requires local offices to process 

applications for SNAP benefits within 30 days of receipt. However, applications from 

households with extremely low income or a low level of resources must be processed more 

quickly under the expedited SNAP eligibility verification procedures, which require that these 

households receive their SNAP benefits within seven days of application. Those eligible for 

expedited service include (1) migrant or seasonal farm workers with countable resources equal to 

or less than $100, (2) households with monthly gross income less than $150 and countable 

resources equal to or less than $100, and (3) households whose combined monthly gross income 

and liquid resources are less than the household’s monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities. 

SNAP participants are required to appear periodically at their local SNAP office or 

participate in a telephone interview for recertification. The certification period varies with the 

likelihood of a change in a SNAP household’s financial circumstances. Certification periods can 

be as short as 3 months, as long as 24 months for households where all adult members are elderly 

or disabled, or up to 36 months for households participating in an Elderly Simplified Application 

Project (ESAP).13 For participants in the SSI-Combined Application Project (SSI-CAP, 

described below), the certification period may be extended up to 48 months. In fiscal year 2016, 

SNAP households were certified for benefits for an average of 13 months. 

In addition to statewide waivers for face to face interviews, as detailed above, States have 

policy options and can receive administrative waivers to simplify other eligibility rules.14 For 

example, States can set requirements for reporting financial circumstances to the SNAP agency 

within various time frames and determine penalties for failing to comply with SNAP work 

requirements (described earlier in this chapter). These allow States greater flexibility to adapt to 

the needs of their own eligible populations. 

BENEFIT COMPUTATION

After a household is certified for SNAP, its monthly SNAP benefit is computed on the basis 

of its net monthly income, the benefit reduction rate (as defined below), and the maximum 

13 This demonstration streamlines the application and recertification process for elderly households with no earned 

income. For more information on ESAP, see SNAP ESAP Guidance at 

http://fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/snap/ESAP_Guidance.pdf. 

14 For more detailed information on State options, see the State Options Reports available at 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-options-report. 

8 

 
SNAP benefit for the household size and location. The maximum benefit to which a household is 

entitled is based on 100 percent of the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan for a family of four in June 

of the previous fiscal year, adjusted for household size and for geographic areas outside of the 

contiguous United States. The Thrifty Food Plan is a healthful and minimal-cost diet, with the 

cost adjusted for household size and composition.15 Maximum benefits are usually revised 

annually to reflect changes in the cost of foods in the plan. The maximum monthly benefit for a 

family of four in the contiguous United States was $649 in fiscal year 2016 (Appendix C). 

Participant households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their net cash income on 

food, with SNAP benefits providing the difference between that amount and the maximum 

benefit. Given that assumption, SNAP benefits are calculated by subtracting 30 percent of a 

household’s net income from the maximum benefit amount to which it is entitled. This 30 

percent rate, at which benefits are reduced for every additional dollar of net income, is called the 

benefit reduction rate.

If a household has zero net income (that is, its deduction amounts match or exceed its gross 

income), it receives the maximum SNAP benefit. For new participants, benefits are adjusted 

based on the number of days remaining in the initial certification month.

16 All eligible one- and 

two-person households are guaranteed a minimum benefit, except during the initial month of 

participation. The minimum benefit for one- and two-person households is 8 percent of the 

maximum benefit for a one-person household. In fiscal year 2016, the minimum benefit for oneand two-person households in the contiguous United States was $16.17

SSI Combined Application Project (SSI-CAP) Households

Certain households with SSI benefits participate in SNAP through SSI-CAP demonstrations. 

SSI-CAP is a joint project of FNS, the Social Security Administration (SSA), and States that 

streamline the SNAP application process for certain households eligible for SSI (also making 

them categorically eligible for SNAP). SSI-CAP eligibility rules and the computation of SNAP 

benefits for SSI-CAP households are different from those for other households. Throughout 

fiscal year 2016, 17 States were operating SSI-CAP demonstrations: Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North 

Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.18 In 

most cases, SSI-CAP participation was limited to one-person households consisting of an elderly 

individual or an individual with a disability who receives SSI and has no earned income.19 In all 

SSI-CAP States except for Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington, these households received a 

15 See Thrifty Food Plan reports at http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood/reports for more 

information.

16 SNAP households will not receive benefits in the first month if the amount of adjusted benefits is less than $10.

17 Appendix Table C.6 presents minimum benefit values for the other States and territories for fiscal year 2016.

18 New Mexico ended its SSI-CAP demonstration in March 2014. However, SSI-CAP households could remain on 

the program through their certification period. The last SSI-CAP benefit was issued in June 2017. 

19 In Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington, a household must have no earned income to enter the program, but, 

once enrolled, may have earned income for up to three months to remain eligible. In Kentucky, New York, North 

Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas, a household with earned income may still be eligible for SSI-CAP benefits. In 

Kentucky and South Dakota, married couples may also be eligible for SSI-CAP benefits, but each spouse must be 

approved to receive SSI in order to meet the eligibility requirements and be treated as a member of the same 

household; in Texas, married couples may participate but are treated as separate households.

9 

 
standard SNAP benefit based on whether the State categorizes them as having “high” or “low” 

shelter expenses, as determined by the State. SSI-CAP households in Florida, Massachusetts, and 

Washington received a SNAP benefit based on gross income, the standard deduction, a standard 

utility allowance, and a standardized “high” or “low” shelter expense deduction. SSI-CAP 

households do not receive any other income deductions. 

Minnesota Family Investment Program Households (MFIP) 

Under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Minnesota calculates the SNAP 

benefit at the same time as the cash assistance benefit for some households that receive both 

SNAP and TANF. To calculate the benefits, total income is subtracted from an income threshold 

that is based on family size, which is higher for families with earnings. If the difference between 

total income and the threshold is greater than the maximum benefit set by Minnesota, the family 

receives the full food portion of its benefit and may receive an additional cash benefit. As a 

family’s income rises, the cash portion of the benefit is reduced before the food portion is 

reduced. Families with income closer to the income threshold may not receive a cash benefit and 

may receive a smaller food benefit as well. MFIP participants are credited with an earnings 

deduction but are not subject to other income deductions. The earnings deduction rate for MFIP 

participants was the first $65 and 50 percent of the remaining earnings in fiscal year 2016. 

SNAP BENEFIT ISSUANCE 

All 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands issue benefits through 

EBT cards. Households receive an EBT card, similar to a debit card, for purchasing food at 

authorized retail stores. A household’s monthly benefit is automatically added to the account 

balance each month (unspent benefits carry over to future months), and purchases are debited at 

the time of the transaction.

PROGRAM CHANGES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR 

In fiscal year 2016, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts expanded existing BBCE 

policies, while Maine restricted its policy. Specifically, New York raised the gross income limit 

for households with earned income from 130 percent to 150 percent of the Federal poverty 

guidelines. Similarly, Illinois raised the gross income limit for households with no elderly 

members or members with a disability from 130 percent to 165 percent of the Federal poverty 

guidelines. Finally, Massachusetts raised the gross income limit for households containing 

childless adults age 18 to 59 and who are not disabled from 130 percent to 200 percent of the 

Federal poverty guidelines. Conversely, in January 2016, Maine restricted its BBCE policy by 

adding an asset limit of $5,000 for all childless households. During the same period, Georgia and 

South Carolina implemented medical deduction demonstration programs, which simplifies the 

application process for qualifying households and may slightly increase eligibility and benefit 

amounts. 

THE ECONOMY AND SNAP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS

The number of SNAP participants has fluctuated over the past few decades, as illustrated in 

Figure 2.1. After a decline from 1994 to 2000, SNAP participation rose each year from 2001 

until 2013. The increase in monthly SNAP participation during the economic recession and 

initial recovery was much greater than in the earlier years, rising from 26.3 million individuals in 

10 
2007 to 47.6 million individuals in 2013. Since 2013, there has been a steady decrease in SNAP 

participation. Average monthly SNAP participation declined from 45.8 million individuals in 

2015 to 44.2 million individuals in 2016. Table 2.1 shows how changes in SNAP participation 

over the past 16 years compare to changes in major economic indicators. 

A similar trend can be seen in total SNAP costs, which peaked in 2013 at $79.9 billion, and 

has fallen steadily each year thereafter. Total SNAP costs declined from $74.0 billion in fiscal 

year 2015 to $70.9 billion in fiscal year 2016. The decrease in total SNAP costs is largely a result 

of the decline in SNAP participation combined with lower average per-person benefits due to 

lower food prices and the expiration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 

(ARRA) at the beginning of fiscal year 2014.20

Figure 2.1. SNAP participants, unemployed individuals, individuals in poverty, and individuals at or below 130 

percent of poverty, calendar years 1985 to 2016

Sources: SNAP Participants: Food and Nutrition Service Fiscal Year Program Operations data. Unemployed 

Individuals: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individuals in poverty and individuals at or 

below 130 percent of poverty: Special tabulations of the Current Population Survey Annual Social and 

Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) by Decision Demographics, Arlington, VA.

a Annual values.

b Average monthly values.

20 This legislation, which took effect on April 1, 2009, temporarily increased the maximum benefit to 113.6 percent 

of the June 2008 Thrifty Food Plan. This provision expired on October 31, 2013, and the maximum benefit returned 

to 100 percent of the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in the preceding June.

11 

 
12 

Table 2.1. Major economic indicators, calendar years 2001 to 2016

 Calendar year

Economic 

indicator 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Inflation rate a 2.3 1.5 2.0 2.7 3.2 3.1 2.7 1.9 0.8 1.2 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.1 1.3

Interest rate b 7.1 6.5 5.7 5.6 5.2 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.3 4.9 4.6 3.7 4.2 4.2 3.9 3.7

Productivity 

increase c 2.7 4.3 3.9 3.2 2.1 0.9 1.4 0.8 3.3 3.3 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.3

Real GDP 

increase d,e 1.0 1.8 2.8 3.8 3.3 2.7 1.8 -0.3 -2.8 2.5 1.6 2.2 1.7 2.4 2.6 1.6

SNAP 

participants f (000) 17,660 19,561 21,952 24,413 26,261 26,074 26,566 29,202 35,285 41,639 45,388 46,942 47,539 46,427 45,516 43,684

Unemployed 

individuals f (000) 6,830 8,375 8,770 8,140 7,579 6,991 7,073 8,948 14,295 14,808 13,739 12,499 11,457 9,598 8,288 7,750

Unemployment 

rate g 4.7 5.8 6.0 5.5 5.1 4.6 4.6 5.8 9.3 9.6 8.9 8.1 7.4 6.2 5.3 4.9

Individuals below 

poverty level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Number in 

thousands 33,905 35,566 36,927 37,937 37,415 37,206 38,205 40,614 43,970 46,677 46,464 47,085 46,203 47,348 43,765 41,492

Percentage of 

total population 12.0 12.4 12.8 13.0 12.7 12.5 12.8 13.5 14.5 15.2 15.0 15.1 14.7 15.0 13.7 13.0

Individuals at or 

below 130 percent

of poverty level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Number in 

thousands 49,061 50,844 52,823 53,413 53,553 52,878 54,264 57,329 60,574 63,984 64,549 65,828 63,938 64,915 60,906 57,745

Percentage of 

total population 17.4 17.8 18.3 18.3 18.2 17.8 18.1 19.0 19.9 20.9 20.9 21.2 20.4 20.5 19.1 18.0

Sources: Inflation rate: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts. Interest rate: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). 

Productivity increase: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Major Sector Productivity and Costs Index.” Real gross domestic product (GDP) increase: 

Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts. SNAP participants: Food and Nutrition Service Fiscal Year Program 

Operations data. Unemployed individuals and unemployment rate: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individuals below poverty level and individuals at or 

below 130 percent of poverty level: Tabulations of the CPS ASEC by Decision Demographics, Arlington, VA. 

a Percentage change from preceding year in the implicit price deflator for Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

b Corporate AAA bond yield. 

c Percentage change from preceding year in output per hour, nonfarm business sector.

d Percentage change from preceding year. 

e The Bureau of Economic Analysis periodically revises GDP estimates. Thus, historical numbers in this table may differ from previous reports.

f Average monthly value.

g Unemployment rate for all civilian workers.
CHAPTER 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP 

HOUSEHOLDS AND PARTICIPANTS

SNAP serves the nutritional needs of a broad spectrum of low-income Americans.21 In fiscal 

year 2016, SNAP provided benefits to an average of 43.5 million people living in 21.5 million 

households each month.

22 Most SNAP households (78 percent) included either a child (under age 

18), an elderly individual (age 60 or older), or a non-elderly individual with a disability. The 

average SNAP household received a monthly benefit of $249, had gross monthly income of 

$814, and net monthly income of $374.23 The average SNAP household size has declined over 

the years, from 2.6 individuals in 1989 to 2.0 individuals in fiscal year 2016 (Appendix Table 

A.27). 

In this chapter, we discuss the composition and economic status of SNAP households, 

characteristics of SNAP participants, and changes in the economic conditions of SNAP 

households from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016. Table 3.1 and Figure 3.1 show the poverty 

status of participants and the effect of SNAP benefits on poverty among participating 

households; Tables 3.2 through 3.4 present sources of income and average monthly income, 

benefit, and SNAP household size by household composition; Table 3.5 depicts the demographic 

characteristics of participants; and Table 3.6 compares the change since 2015 (in constant 2016 

dollars) in average income, deductions, and benefits for participating households. 

THE POVERTY STATUS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS

SNAP provides benefits to households in need.24 In fiscal year 2016, the gross monthly 

income of 82 percent of SNAP households was less than or equal to 100 percent of the Federal 

poverty guidelines (Table 3.1).25 The gross monthly income of 58 percent of all SNAP 

households was less than or equal to 75 percent of the poverty guidelines, and the income of 40 

percent of all SNAP households was less than or equal to 50 percent of the guidelines (Table 

3.1). The average household had income that was slightly less than 61 percent of the poverty 

guidelines (Appendix Table A.2). 

21 The information in this chapter and the estimates in Appendices A and B are based on a sample of 46,595 

households that participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2016 (see Appendix Table D.2). The sample was drawn from 

SNAP households in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Households in 

Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands were not included in the sample because these 

territories receive block grants in lieu of SNAP.

22 The estimates of 43.5 million participants and 21.5 million households differ slightly from the number of SNAP 

participants and households in FNS administrative records (44.2 million and 21.8 million, respectively) because the 

sample estimate is adjusted to exclude receipt of benefits by ineligible households and those receiving disaster 

assistance. These adjustments also affect household average monthly benefits, which are $249 in the SNAP QC data 

compared with $255 in FNS administrative records (Appendix D provides details).

23 Because net income is not used in the benefit determinations of MFIP households or SSI-CAP households in 

States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits, the average monthly net income estimate excludes these households.

24 For more detailed information on the economic status of SNAP households, see Appendix Tables A.3 through 

A.8.

25 See Appendix Table C.1 for the poverty guidelines.

13

 
SNAP effectively targets benefits to the neediest households—poorer households receive 

greater SNAP benefits than those with more income. The 40 percent of all SNAP households 

with gross monthly income less than or equal to 50 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines in 

fiscal year 2016 received 56 percent of all benefits. In contrast, the 18 percent of households with 

a gross monthly income above the poverty guidelines received only 8 percent of all benefits 

(Table 3.1). 

The impact of SNAP benefits on a household’s purchasing power is estimated by adding the 

dollar value of the benefits to a household’s income and then examining the distribution of 

households by poverty status.26 As shown in Figure 3.1, the combination of cash and SNAP 

benefits yields a substantially different distribution of SNAP households by poverty status. 

Specifically, when SNAP benefits are included in gross income, the resulting increase in the 

income of SNAP households was sufficient to move 10 percent of participating households 

above the poverty guidelines. SNAP benefits affected a greater number of the poorest SNAP 

households, moving 12 percent of participating households above 50 percent of the poverty 

guidelines. 

HOUSEHOLDS WITH GREATER NEEDS

SNAP serves many households that include vulnerable individuals—children, the elderly, 

and individuals with disabilities.27 In fiscal year 2016, 78 percent of all SNAP households—

which contained 88 percent of all participants—included a child, an elderly individual, or a nonelderly individual with a disability. These households received 84 percent of all SNAP benefits 

(Appendix Table A.14). 

Households with Children

In fiscal year 2016, SNAP served an average of 9.2 million households with children each 

month, representing 43 percent of all SNAP households. Seventy-four percent of all SNAP 

households with earned income contained children, while 55 percent of all households with 

children had earned income (Tables 3.2 and 3.3). Eleven percent of all households with children 

received TANF cash benefits and 3 percent received a combination of TANF and earnings 

(Appendix Table A.6). Compared with other SNAP households, those with children received a 

relatively high average SNAP benefit of $388 per month (Table 3.4), in large part because the 

average household size among SNAP households with children (3.2 people) was larger than the 

average household size among all SNAP households (2.0 people). 

In fiscal year 2016, single adults headed more than half (58 percent) of all SNAP households 

with children, accounting for 25 percent of all SNAP households (Table 3.3). Seven percent of 

all SNAP households included a married head of household and children, accounting for 17 

percent of all SNAP households with children. The remaining SNAP households with children 

were non-married multiple adult households (10 percent) and children only households (14 

percent).

26 This comparison assumes that program participants value their SNAP benefits at face value.

27 See Appendix Tables A.3, A.6, A.8, A.11, A.12, A.14–A.19, and A.21–A.23 for more details on these households. 

14

 
Table 3.1. Distribution of households and their benefits by countable income as a percentage of Federal 

poverty guidelines

 All households All benefits

Gross income as a percentage 

of Federal poverty guidelinesa Percentage

Cumulative 

percentage Percentage

Cumulative 

percentage

25 percent or less 28.7 28.7 36.4 36.4

26 to 50 percent 11.5 40.2 19.2 55.6

51 to 75 percent 17.9 58.1 19.6 75.2

76 to 100 percent 24.0 82.1 17.2 92.4

101 to 130 percent 12.2 94.2 6.2 98.6

131 percent or more 5.8 100.0 1.4 100.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Note: Estimates may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding.

a Defined as the fiscal year 2016 SNAP net income screen (Appendix Table C.3).

Figure 3.1. Effect of SNAP benefits on the poverty status of SNAP households

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

a Defined as the fiscal year 2016 SNAP net income screen (Appendix Table C.3).

The characteristics of households with children headed by a married-couple varied 

considerably from those of households with children headed by a single-adult. Of the 5.4 million 

SNAP households with children headed by a single-adult, 2.5 million (46 percent) had earned 

income, about 668,000 (12 percent) received TANF, 663,000 (12 percent) received SSI, and 

534,000 (10 percent) received Social Security income. Of the 1.6 million households with 

children headed by a married-couple, 1.2 million (72 percent) had earned income, 111,000 

(7 percent) received TANF, 176,000 (11 percent) received SSI, and 156,000 (10 percent) 

received Social Security income. Among households with children headed by a single-adult, 

15
899,000 (17 percent) had zero gross income whereas among married-head households with 

children, 137,000 (9 percent) had zero gross income (Table 3.3). 

The average monthly SNAP benefit for single-adult households with children was lower 

than that of married-head households with children ($377 versus $444) because of the smaller 

size of single-adult households (Table 3.4). However, the benefit per person was higher for 

people in single-adult households with children than for people in married-head households with 

children ($126 versus $101), because single-adult households were poorer. Single-adult 

households with children had a substantially lower gross monthly income than married-head 

households with children ($902 versus $1,553). 

Among all households with children, over 1.7 million (19 percent) received child support 

(Appendix Table A.6). 

Households with Elderly Individuals

In fiscal year 2016, SNAP served a monthly average of about 4.7 million households with 

elderly individuals (age 60 or older), compared with an average of 4.4 million households each 

month in fiscal year 2015. These households represented 22 percent of all SNAP households 

(Table 3.2). Households with elderly individuals had an average household size of 1.2 people 

(Table 3.4). 

In fiscal year 2016, the average SNAP benefit for households with elderly individuals was 

$124, compared to $284 for households without elderly individuals (Appendix Table A.2). 

SNAP households with elderly individuals tended to receive relatively small benefit amounts for 

two reasons. First, SNAP households with elderly individuals typically had higher average gross 

and net incomes, $893 and $434 respectively, when compared to households without elderly 

individuals, $792 and $358 respectively. Second, elderly SNAP recipients often lived alone and 

thus were eligible for smaller maximum benefit amounts than other households.28 

In fiscal year 2016, 82 percent of all SNAP households with elderly individuals were singleperson households (Table 3.2). Elderly SNAP recipients who lived alone received an average 

SNAP benefit of $106 per month, compared to $174 for multiperson households composed of 

only elderly individuals and $242 for multiperson households with both elderly and non-elderly 

individuals (Appendix Table A.15). The average size of households with elderly individuals not 

living alone was 2.3 people (Table 3.4). 

A majority of SNAP households with elderly individuals received either SSI or Social 

Security income. In fiscal year 2016, 36 percent of all SNAP households with elderly individuals 

received SSI, 70 percent received Social Security income, and 86 percent received income from 

at least one of those two sources (Appendix Table A.6). Nineteen percent of households with 

elderly individuals received both SSI and Social Security income (Appendix Table A.6). SNAP 

households with elderly individuals represented 36 percent of all SNAP households with SSI and 

57 percent of all SNAP households with Social Security income (Table 3.2). Seven percent of 

households with elderly individuals had no income (Table 3.3). 

28 In this report, we use the term “living alone” to refer to individuals who reside in single-person SNAP households, 

although others may live in the same residential unit.

16

 
Households with Non-Elderly Individuals with Disabilities

In fiscal year 2016, SNAP served a monthly average of 4.4 million households with nonelderly individuals with disabilities (Table 3.2).29 These households represented 20 percent of all 

SNAP households and received an average monthly SNAP benefit of $187 (Table 3.4). 

Sixty-two percent of SNAP households with non-elderly individuals with disabilities were 

single-person households (Table 3.2). These households had an average per-person benefit of 

$110 (Table 3.4). Non-elderly individuals with disabilities who did not live alone resided in 

households with an average of 3.2 individuals and a per-person benefit of $98. Sixty-eight 

percent of households with non-elderly individuals with disabilities received SSI, and 51 percent 

received Social Security income (Table 3.3). SNAP households with non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities represented 65 percent of all SNAP households with SSI and 39 percent of all 

SNAP households with Social Security income (Table 3.2). 

OTHER HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY SNAP

Although the majority of SNAP households contained children, elderly individuals, or 

individuals with disabilities, in fiscal year 2016, 22 percent (4.8 million households) consisted 

solely of one or more non-elderly adults without disabilities with no children (Table 3.2). These 

households tended to be single-person households (92 percent) and had a very low average gross 

monthly income ($288). More than one-fourth of these households (28 percent) had earned 

income while 59 percent had zero gross income. Households consisting solely of one or more 

non-elderly adults without disabilities received an average SNAP benefit of $185 per month 

(Tables 3.3 and 3.4). 

Within this group, 3.5 million SNAP households (16 percent of all households) contained 

one or more adults age 18 to 49 without disabilities and with no children. With some exceptions, 

these participants are subject to time-limited SNAP benefits unless they fulfill additional work 

requirements beyond the SNAP general work requirements. These households tended to be 

single-person households (84 percent). Fifty-four percent of these households had zero gross 

income and 30 percent had earned income (Table 3.3). 

29 We identify households with a non-elderly member with a disability as (1) non-elderly SSI recipients, (2) those 

with a medical expense deduction and no participating elderly individuals or nonparticipating elderly members with 

a SNAP case affiliation code of 8, 9, 11, or 13, (3) non-elderly adults who worked fewer than 30 hours a week and 

received Social Security income, veterans’ benefits, or workers’ compensation, or (4) non-elderly adults in singleperson households who received Social Security income.

17

 
18 

Table 3.2. Household receipt of countable income types by household composition

 Households with:

 All households

Countable 

earned incomea Social Security SSI

Zero gross 

income TANF GA

Household composition Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Totalb 21,511 100.0 6,866 100.0 5,715 100.0 4,584 100.0 4,393 100.0 1,094 100.0 687 100.0

Children 9,221 42.9 5,103 74.3 854 14.9 1,073 23.4 1,254 28.5 1,046 95.6 151 22.0

Single-adult household 5,387 25.0 2,495 36.3 534 9.3 663 14.5 899 20.5 668 61.1 102 14.8

Multiple-adult household 2,551 11.9 1,710 24.9 293 5.1 369 8.0 242 5.5 200 18.3 38 5.5

Married-head 1,597 7.4 1,154 16.8 156 2.7 176 3.8 137 3.1 111 10.1 21 3.1

Other multiple-adult 954 4.4 556 8.1 137 2.4 192 4.2 105 2.4 89 8.1 17 2.5

Children only 1,283 6.0 899 13.1 26 0.5 42 0.9 113 2.6 178 16.3 11 1.7

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 313 4.6 3,264 57.1 1,660 36.2 338 7.7 33 3.1 179 26.0

Living alone 3,860 17.9 173 2.5 2,688 47.0 1,372 29.9 313 7.1 0 0.0 142 20.6

Not living alone 821 3.8 140 2.0 576 10.1 288 6.3 25 0.6 33 3.0 37 5.4

Non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities 4,367 20.3 471 6.9 2,230 39.0 2,968 64.8 1 0.0 175 16.0 160 23.2

Living alone 2,727 12.7 128 1.9 1,541 27.0 1,712 37.4 1 0.0 1 0.1 79 11.5

Not living alone 1,641 7.6 343 5.0 689 12.1 1,256 27.4 0 0.0 174 15.9 81 11.7

Other householdsc 4,775 22.2 1,328 19.3 23 0.4 0 0.0 2,803 63.8 40 3.6 278 40.4

Single-person 4,381 20.4 1,109 16.2 6 0.1 0 0.0 2,702 61.5 25 2.3 272 39.5

Multiperson 394 1.8 219 3.2 17 0.3 – – 101 2.3 15 1.3 6 0.9

Adults age 18 to 49 

without disabilities in 

childless householdsd 3,529 16.4 1,040 15.1 137 2.4 126 2.7 1,910 43.5 42 3.9 189 27.5

Living alone 2,961 13.8 780 11.4 5 0.1 0 0.0 1,827 41.6 21 1.9 177 25.7

Not living alone 567 2.6 259 3.8 132 2.3 126 2.7 83 1.9 22 2.0 13 1.8

Single-person 

households 11,352 52.8 1,652 24.1 4,251 74.4 3,086 67.3 3,062 69.7 90 8.2 494 71.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

a The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households may have zero or multiple types of income.

a The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households may have zero or multiple types of income.

b The sums of the household types do not match the numbers in the Total row because a household may have more than one characteristic.

c Households not containing children, elderly individuals, or non-elderly individuals with disabilities.

d With some exceptions, these participants are subject to work requirements and time limits.

– No sample households are in this category.
19 

Table 3.3. Percentage of households with countable income types by household composition

 Households with:

 All households

Countable earned 

incomea Social Security SSI

Zero gross 

income TANF GA

Household 

composition

Number 

(000)

Column 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Number 

(000)

Row 

percent

Totalb 21,511 100.0 6,866 31.9 5,715 26.6 4,584 21.3 4,393 20.4 1,094 5.1 687 3.2

Children 9,221 42.9 5,103 55.3 854 9.3 1,073 11.6 1,254 13.6 1,046 11.3 151 1.6

Single-adult 

household 5,387 25.0 2,495 46.3 534 9.9 663 12.3 899 16.7 668 12.4 102 1.9

Multiple-adult 

household 2,551 11.9 1,710 67.0 293 11.5 369 14.4 242 9.5 200 7.8 38 1.5

Married-head 1,597 7.4 1,154 72.2 156 9.8 176 11.0 137 8.6 111 6.9 21 1.3

Other multiple-adult 954 4.4 556 58.3 137 14.4 192 20.2 105 11.0 89 9.3 17 1.8

Children only 1,283 6.0 899 70.0 26 2.0 42 3.3 113 8.8 178 13.9 11 0.9

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 313 6.7 3,264 69.7 1,660 35.5 338 7.2 33 0.7 179 3.8

Living alone 3,860 17.9 173 4.5 2,688 69.6 1,372 35.5 313 8.1 0 0.0 142 3.7

Not living alone 821 3.8 140 17.1 576 70.2 288 35.1 25 3.1 33 4.0 37 4.5

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities 4,367 20.3 471 10.8 2,230 51.1 2,968 68.0 1 0.0 175 4.0 160 3.7

Living alone 2,727 12.7 128 4.7 1,541 56.5 1,712 62.8 1 0.0 1 0.0 79 2.9

Not living alone 1,641 7.6 343 20.9 689 42.0 1,256 76.6 0 0.0 174 10.6 81 4.9

Other householdsc 4,775 22.2 1,328 27.8 23 0.5 0 0.0 2,803 58.7 40 0.8 278 5.8

Single-person 4,381 20.4 1,109 25.3 6 0.1 0 0.0 2,702 61.7 25 0.6 272 6.2

Multiperson 394 1.8 219 55.7 17 4.2 – – 101 25.6 15 3.7 6 1.5

Adults age 18 to 49 

without disabilities in 

childless 

householdsd 3,529 16.4 1,040 29.5 137 3.9 126 3.6 1,910 54.1 42 1.2 189 5.4

Living alone 2,961 13.8 780 26.4 5 0.2 0 0.0 1,827 61.7 21 0.7 177 6.0

Not living alone 567 2.6 259 45.7 132 23.3 126 22.2 83 14.6 22 3.8 13 2.2

Single-person 

households 11,352 52.8 1,652 14.6 4,251 37.4 3,086 27.2 3,062 27.0 90 0.8 494 4.4

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

a The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households may have zero or multiple types of income.

b The sums of the household types do not match the numbers in the Total row because a household may have more than one of the characteristics.

c Households not containing children, elderly individuals, or non-elderly individuals with disabilities.

d With some exceptions, these participants are subject to work requirements and time limits.

– No sample households are in this category.
Table 3.4. Average values of selected characteristics by household composition

 Average values

Household composition

Gross monthly 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Net monthly 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Monthly 

SNAP benefit 

(dollars)

Monthly SNAP 

benefit per 

person 

(dollars)b

Household 

size 

(individuals)

Totala 814 374 249 124 2.0

Children 1,037 497 388 121 3.2

Single-adult household 902 413 377 126 3.0

Male adult 834 396 346 128 2.7

Female adult 908 415 380 127 3.0

Multiple-adult household 1,453 796 452 105 4.3

Married-head 1,553 861 444 101 4.4

Other multiple-adult 1,286 686 466 111 4.2

Children only 777 251 310 141 2.2

Elderly individuals 893 434 124 103 1.2

Living alone 813 363 106 106 1.0

Not living alone 1,273 732 208 90 2.3

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 1,019 498 187 104 1.8

Living alone 848 332 110 110 1.0

Not living alone 1,302 754 315 98 3.2

Other householdsc 288 106 185 168 1.1

Single-person 240 80 175 175 1.0

Multiperson 826 388 292 133 2.2

Single-person households 589 231 136 136 1.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

a Because net income is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households and 626,735 SSI-CAP 

households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from this column.

b This column is calculated by dividing the rounded, average monthly SNAP benefit by the rounded, average SNAP 

household size.

c Households not containing children, elderly individuals, or non-elderly individuals with disabilities.

20
Single-Person Households

Of all SNAP households in fiscal year 2016, 11.4 million (53 percent) were single-person 

households (Table 3.2).30 These households received an average monthly SNAP benefit of $136 

(Table 3.4). A slight majority of these individuals (54 percent) were female (Appendix Table 

A.24), 34 percent were elderly (Appendix Table A.17), and 24 percent were non-elderly 

individuals with disabilities (Appendix Table A.17). Compared with all SNAP households, a 

relatively small proportion of SNAP participants living alone had earned income (15 percent 

versus 32 percent) and a relatively high proportion had zero gross income (27 percent versus 

20 percent) (Table 3.3). Not surprisingly, given the high proportion of elderly individuals and 

individuals with disabilities making up single-person households, 37 percent and 27 percent of 

single-person households received Social Security income and SSI income, respectively 

(Table 3.3). 

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNAP PARTICIPANTS

In fiscal year 2016, 44 percent of SNAP participants were children and they received 

44 percent of prorated SNAP benefits (Table 3.5).31 More than two-thirds (70 percent) of 

children served by SNAP were school-age (age 5 to 17). Forty-four percent of participants were 

non-elderly adults (age 18 to 59) and 12 percent were elderly individuals (age 60 or older). 

Sixty-three percent of non-elderly adults and 63 percent of elderly individuals were female 

(Appendix Table A.23). Nearly nine percent of SNAP participants were foreign-born—4 percent 

were naturalized citizens, 1 percent were refugees, and 3 percent were other noncitizens (lawful 

permanent residents and other eligible noncitizens). Nine percent of all SNAP participants were 

citizen children living with noncitizen adults.32

30 These individuals apply for SNAP benefits for themselves only. Other people may live in the household.

31 Prorated benefits equal the benefits paid to households multiplied by the ratio of participants with selected 

characteristic to total household size.

32 Some of the noncitizen household members were legal residents of the United States and participated in SNAP 

with citizen children; others were ineligible because of their immigration status and did not participate.

21 

 
Table 3.5. SNAP benefits of participants by selected demographic characteristics

 Average values Prorated benefitsa

Household composition

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Total 43,539 100.0 5,353,011 100.0

Age . . . . 

Children 19,212 44.1 2,336,747 43.7

Preschool-age children 5,830 13.4 742,171 13.9

0 to 1 year 2,329 5.3 300,755 5.6

2 to 4 years 3,501 8.0 441,415 8.2

School-age children 13,382 30.7 1,594,576 29.8

5 to 7 years 3,596 8.3 440,060 8.2

8 to 11 years 4,651 10.7 560,189 10.5

12 to 15 years 3,694 8.5 428,678 8.0

16 to 17 years 1,441 3.3 165,648 3.1

Non-elderly adults (age 18 to 59) 19,209 44.1 2,494,323 46.6

Elderly adults (60 or older) 5,118 11.8 521,941 9.8

Citizenship . . . . 

U.S.-born citizen 39,765 91.3 4,884,258 91.2

Naturalized citizen 1,806 4.1 218,520 4.1

Refugee 484 1.1 58,948 1.1

Other noncitizen 1,484 3.4 191,284 3.6

Citizen children living with noncitizen adultsb 3,837 8.8 493,421 9.2

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities 4,653 10.7 476,977 8.9

Children with disabilities 674 1.5 62,272 1.2

Non-elderly adults with disabilities 3,979 9.1 414,705 7.7

Adults age 18 to 49 without disabilities in 

childless householdsc 3,831 8.8 623,885 11.7

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

a Prorated benefits equal the benefits paid to households multiplied by the ratio of participants with selected characteristic to 

total household size.

a Noncitizens may be inside or outside the SNAP household.

c With some exceptions, these participants are subject to work requirements and time limits.

22 
CHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS

The average household gross income increased in real dollars by $21 from fiscal year 2015 

to fiscal year 2016, from $793 to $814. The average household net income increased by $17 to

$374 during the same period (Table 3.6). 

The percentage of households with zero gross income decreased by 2 percent from fiscal 

year 2015 to fiscal year 2016, from 22 percent to 20 percent (Appendix Table A.26). The 

percentage of households with zero net income decreased from 40 percent in fiscal year 2015 to 

37 percent in fiscal year 2016 (Appendix Table A.26). The percentage of households with earned 

income remained at 32 percent between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016. Households with 

TANF income decreased from 6 percent in fiscal year 2015, to 5 percent in fiscal year 2016. 

The average household benefit decreased in real dollars, from $252 in fiscal year 2015 to 

$249 in fiscal year 2016, as net income per household increased in real dollars from $357 to 

$374 (Table 3.6). 

Table 3.6. Nominal and real values of selected characteristics, fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016

 

Fiscal year 

2015

Fiscal year 

2016 

Characteristic

Nominal

value

Real value

(in fiscal year 

2016 dollars)

Nominal

value

Percentage 

change in 

nominal values

Percentage 

change in real 

values

Average gross income a . . . . . 

Per household $786 $793 $814 +3.6 +2.7

Per person 456 460 479 +5.1 +4.2

Average net income a . . . . . 

Per household 354 357 374 +5.6 +4.6

Per person 188 190 201 +6.9 +5.9

Average total deduction a 529 534 539 +1.9 +1.0

Average household benefit b 254 252 249 -2.1 -1.4

Maximum household benefit 

for a family of four b,c 649 644 649 +0.0 +0.7

Consumer price index (CPI) . . . . .

All items 236.7 . 238.9 +0.9 .

Food at home 242.2 . 240.4 -0.7 .

Sources: CPI-U average values: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nominal values: Fiscal Year 2015 

and Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control samples.

a Real values are in constant fiscal year 2016 dollars. Fiscal year 2015 values were inflated by the change in the CPI-U for 

all items between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016 (+0.9 percent).

b Real values are in constant fiscal year 2016 dollars. Fiscal year 2015 values were inflated by the change in the CPI-U for 

food at home between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016 (-0.7 percent).

c The maximum benefit values were based on 100 percent of the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in June 2015 for a family of 

four living in the 48 contiguous States or the District of Columbia.

23 

ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

ACRONYMS

AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 

BBCE Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility

CPI-U Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers 

CPS ASEC Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement 

EBT Electronic Benefit Transfer

FNS U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 

GA General Assistance

HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

MFIP Minnesota Family Investment Program 

PA Public Assistance

SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP QC Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control

SSA Social Security Administration

SSI Supplemental Security Income

SSI-CAP SSI-Combined Application Project 

SUA Standard Utility Allowance

TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture 

27 

DEFINITIONS

Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill).

This legislation, which reauthorized SNAP, 

was enacted on February 7, 2014. The bill 

maintained the program’s basic eligibility 

guidelines while reducing or eliminating the 

shelter expense deduction for some 

households with no energy costs and nominal 

energy assistance. The bill also provided 

additional SNAP funding for enhanced 

Employment and Training activities, and 

expanded antifraud efforts. 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 

of 2009 (ARRA). This legislation, which 

took effect on April 1, 2009, temporarily 

increased the maximum benefit to 113.6 

percent of the June 2008 Thrifty Food Plan. 

As specified in subsequent legislation, this 

provision expired on October 31, 2013, and 

the maximum benefit returned to being based 

on 100 percent of the cost of the Thrifty Food 

Plan in the preceding June. 

Broad-based categorical eligibility 

(BBCE). Policy under which households 

receive a TANF- or Maintenance of Effortfunded noncash service that makes them 

categorically eligible for SNAP. The noncash 

service is usually in the form of a brochure or 

handout that provides information on Stateprovided assistance and services. Households 

meeting State-determined eligibility criteria 

receive this information upon application or 

recertification for SNAP.

Categorically eligible households. 

Households in which all members receive or 

are authorized to receive TANF, SSI, or GA 

benefits and therefore are deemed financially 

eligible for SNAP. Includes households 

receiving cash or noncash benefits or services 

that are at least 50 percent funded by TANF 

or Maintenance of Effort funds. Some States 

also confer categorical eligibility based on 

benefits or services that are less than 50 

percent funded by TANF/Maintenance of 

Effort, and on households in which at least 

one member receives a benefit or service and 

the State determines that the entire household 

benefits. If the purpose of the program 

conferring categorical eligibility is to prevent 

out-of-wedlock pregnancies or to foster or 

strengthen marriage, the household’s gross 

income must be under 200 percent of 

poverty. However, if the purpose of the 

program is to further workforce participation, 

this income limit does not apply.

Certification period. Length of time a 

household is certified to receive SNAP 

benefits. When the certification period 

expires, households must be recertified to 

continue receiving benefits. 

Child support payment deduction. 

Deduction from gross income in the 

eligibility and benefit calculation for 

households with legally obligated child 

support payments made to or for a 

nonmember of the household. States may 

choose to exclude child support payments 

from gross income rather than use the 

deduction. See also Deductions. 

Children. Individuals under age 18. 

Countable income. All earned or unearned 

income that is counted toward gross income. 

This includes most cash income (with the 

exception of specific types of income, such 

as loans) and excludes most noncash income 

or in-kind benefits. See also Gross income 

limit.

Countable resources. Cash on hand and 

resources that may be converted easily to 

cash, such as money in checking or savings 

accounts, savings certificates, stocks or 

bonds, and lump-sum payments. Such 

resources also include some non-liquid 

resources, although the family home, certain 

family vehicles, and business tools or 

property are not counted. See also Resource 

limit. 

29
Deductions. Allowable deductions from a 

household’s gross monthly income used to 

calculate SNAP net monthly income. The 

deductions shown in the appendix tables are 

those to which households were entitled. 

(MFIP and SSI-CAP participants are subject 

to different rules.) Total deductions to which 

a household is entitled do not always equal 

the difference between gross and net income 

amounts because net income may not be less 

than zero. See also Child support payment 

deduction, Dependent care deduction, 

Earned income deduction, Excess shelter 

expense deduction, Medical expense 

deduction, MFIP, SSI-CAP, Standard 

deduction, and Total deduction. 

Deemed income. Individual sponsors of 

certain noncitizens may be subject to 

sponsor-to-noncitizen deeming, which counts 

the sponsor’s income and resources as part of 

the noncitizen’s income and resources when 

determining eligibility for SNAP.

Dependent care deduction. Deduction 

received by SNAP households for expenses 

involved in caring for dependents while other

household members work, seek employment, 

or attend school. See Deductions.

Earned income. Includes wages, salaries, 

self-employment income, and other reported 

earned income.

Earned income deduction. Deduction 

received by households with earnings, equal 

to 20 percent of the combined earnings of 

household members. (MFIP participants were 

entitled to a 50 percent earned income 

deduction in fiscal year 2016.) See also 

Deductions and Minnesota Family 

Investment Program. 

Elderly individuals. Adults age 60 or older. 

Electronic Benefit Transfer. Means of 

benefit delivery via Electronic Benefit 

Transfer card, similar to a debit card, used to 

purchase food at authorized retail stores.

Entrant households. Households newly 

certified during fiscal year 2016 and in their 

first month of participation.

Excess shelter expense deduction. 

Deduction received by households with 

shelter costs, equal to those shelter costs that 

exceed 50 percent of the household’s 

countable income after all other potential 

deductions are subtracted from gross income. 

There is a limit on the shelter deduction for 

households without elderly members or 

individuals with disabilities. See also 

Deductions, Homeless household shelter 

estimate, and Appendix C. 

Expedited service households. Households 

with gross income less than $150 and 

countable resources equal to or less than 

$100 and households with migrant or 

seasonal farm workers with countable 

resources equal to or less than $100 are 

eligible for expedited SNAP eligibility 

verification procedures. A State agency must 

review each SNAP application and conduct 

an eligibility interview within seven days of 

application submission. Eligible households 

must receive SNAP benefits within this time 

frame.

Gross income. Total monthly countable 

income of a household in dollars, before 

applying deductions. 

Gross income limit. SNAP monthly gross 

income eligibility standards, determined by 

household size; equal to 130 percent of 

Federal poverty guidelines. See also 

Appendix C and Countable income. 

Homeless household shelter deduction. 

Some States allow homeless households to 

deduct $143 for estimated shelter expenses.

Household. Individuals who live in a 

residential unit and purchase and prepare 

food together. Additionally, spouses living 

together, and children under age 22 living 

with their parents must be considered a 

household, regardless of whether or not they 

purchase and prepare food together. 

30
Individuals living alone. Individuals who 

reside in one-person SNAP households 

(although other nonparticipating individuals 

may live in the same residence).

Individuals with disabilities. Under SNAP 

rules, a disabled individual is defined as one 

who receives Federal or State payments for 

the disabled or blind, receives a disability 

retirement benefit from a governmental 

agency, or receives an annuity under the 

Railroad Retirement Act and is either eligible 

for Medicare or is considered to be disabled 

based on SSI rules. A disabled veteran or a 

permanently disabled spouse or child of a 

veteran receiving veterans’ benefits is also 

considered to be disabled for SNAP 

purposes. In this report, individuals with 

disabilities are those under age 60 who (1) 

were SSI recipients; (2) worked fewer than 

30 hours per week, were exempted from 

work registration due to disability, and 

received Social Security income, veterans’ 

benefits, or workers’ compensation; (3) were 

in a SNAP household without a participating

elderly individual or nonparticipating elderly 

member with a SNAP case affiliation code in 

(8,9,11,13) but with a medical expense

deduction and some indication of disability 

such as work registration status, hours 

worked, or type of income received; or 

(4) were in a single-person household and 

received Social Security income.

Initial certification households. Includes 

both households certified for the first time 

within the current certification period and 

previously certified households that have not 

received benefits for at least 30 days.

Lawful permanent residents. Noncitizens 

lawfully admitted for permanent resident 

status. 

Married-head households. Households with 

a spouse present or with a head of household 

in a unit with spouse outside of the unit. 

Maximum benefit. SNAP benefits are 

calculated by subtracting 30 percent of a 

household’s net income from the maximum 

possible benefit amount to which it is entitled 

based on household size. The maximum 

benefit is based on 100 percent of the cost of 

the Thrifty Food Plan in the preceding June 

for a reference family of four, rounded to the 

lowest dollar increment. The maximum 

benefit is uniform throughout the contiguous 

United States but is different for Hawaii, 

Alaska, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. See 

also Appendix C. 

Medical expense deduction. Deduction 

available to households with elderly members 

or individuals with disabilities, equal to all 

unreimbursed medical expenses incurred by 

the elderly individual or individual with a 

disability that exceed $35. See also 

Deductions.

Medical deduction demonstrations. State 

programs that use a standard deduction 

amount for households with medical 

expenses below a specified limit. 

Metropolitan households. Households 

whose SNAP application was processed at an 

agency in a Census Bureau-defined 

Metropolitan Statistical Area. A Metropolitan 

Statistical Area has at least one urbanized 

area with population of 50,000 or more and 

includes adjacent territory with a high degree 

of social and economic integration with the 

core, as measured by commuting ties.

Micropolitan households. Households 

whose SNAP application was processed at an 

agency in a Census Bureau-defined 

Micropolitan Statistical Area. A Micropolitan 

Statistical Area has at least one urban cluster 

of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 in 

population and includes adjacent territory 

with a high degree of social and economic 

integration with the core, as measured by 

commuting ties.

Minimum benefit. Amount guaranteed to all 

eligible one- and two-person units except 

during the initial month of participation. The 

minimum benefit for all one- and two-person 

units was equal to 8 percent of the maximum 

benefit for a one-person household. Because 

31
it is derived from the maximum benefit, the 

minimum benefit also varies by geographic 

region and month of benefit receipt in fiscal 

year 2016. See also Appendix C. 

Minnesota Family Investment Program 

(MFIP). Minnesota’s cash and food 

assistance program, which jointly calculates 

SNAP benefits and cash assistance for 

participating households. 

Net income. Total monthly countable income 

of a household in dollars, after applying 

deductions. Net income is not calculated for 

MFIP households or SSI-CAP households in 

Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, 

Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New 

York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South 

Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and 

Washington 

Net income limit. SNAP monthly net income 

eligibility standard, determined by household 

size, equal to 100 percent of the Federal 

poverty guidelines. See also Appendix C. 

Noncitizen. In this report, “noncitizen” refers 

to individuals residing in the United States 

who are not natural-born or naturalized 

citizens. These include lawful permanent 

residents, refugees, asylees, deportees, and 

unauthorized aliens. Lawfully present 

noncitizens are subject to additional 

nonfinancial eligibility criteria (see Chapter 

2). Unauthorized aliens are not eligible to 

receive SNAP benefits but they may be 

nonparticipating members of SNAP 

households. 

Non-elderly adults. Adults age 18 to 59. 

Nonimmigrant visitors to the United 

States. Noncitizens who have been admitted 

for a specified period, including tourists, 

students, and foreign nationals with work 

permits.

Nonparticipating household head 

households. Households headed by someone 

ineligible for SNAP, such as an ineligible 

noncitizen. 

Other multiple-adult households.

Households with unmarried household head, 

two or more adults, and at least one child. 

Other noncitizen. In this report, “other 

noncitizen” refers to nonrefugee, lawful 

permanent residents in the United States and 

eligible noncitizens who meet SNAP 

nonfinancial eligibility standards. See 

Noncitizen. 

Poverty guidelines. HHS issues the poverty 

guidelines used by FNS. They are developed 

on the basis of the poverty thresholds issued 

by the Census Bureau. Dividing the 

guidelines by 12 and rounding up to the 

nearest dollar yields the monthly net income 

limits for SNAP. See also Appendix C. 

Preschool-age children. Children under age 

5. 

Pure public assistance (PA). A household is 

considered to be pure PA if each member of 

the household receives SSI, a cash TANF 

benefit, or GA income. 

Refugees. Noncitizens accorded refugee 

status. In this report, the term “refugee” 

includes refugees, asylees, and deportees. 

Resource limit. For all non-categorically 

eligible households without an elderly 

member or individual with a disability, the 

resource limit was $2,250 in fiscal year 2016. 

Non-categorically eligible households with 

an elderly individual or individual with a 

disability were allowed up to $3,250 in 

countable resources. See also Countable 

resources.

Rural. Households whose SNAP application 

was processed at an agency not located in a 

Metropolitan Statistical Area or a 

Micropolitan Statistical Area.

School-age children. Children age 5 to 17. 

Shelter deduction. See Excess shelter 

expense deduction. 

Single adult with children households. 

Households with exactly one person age 18 

32
or older, no spouse, and at least one person 

under age 18. 

Single-person households. Households with 

exactly one person.

SSI-Combined Application Project (SSICAP). Joint FNS-SSA-State partnerships 

with a goal of streamlining the procedures for 

providing SNAP benefits to certain 

households eligible for SSI. 

Standard deduction. Deduction received by 

all households, which varies by household 

size and for areas outside of the 48 

contiguous States and the District of 

Columbia to reflect price differences among 

geographic areas. See also Appendix C and 

Deductions. 

Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). 

Specified dollar amounts set by State 

agencies that States may use in place of 

actual utility costs to calculate a household’s 

total shelter expenses.

Student. Participant age 18 or older enrolled 

at least half time in a recognized school, 

training program, or institution of higher 

education. 

Thrifty Food Plan. Market basket of goods 

based on an economical and nutritious diet, 

adjusted for household size and composition. 

Used to determine maximum SNAP benefit 

amounts. 

Time limits and additional work 

requirements for adults age 18 to 49 

without disabilities in childless households.

SNAP participants without disabilities age 18 

to 49 who do not live with a household 

member under the age of 18 are generally 

subject to time limited participation unless 

they fulfill additional work requirements 

beyond the SNAP general work 

requirements. (See Work requirements.) In 

order to receive SNAP benefits for more than 

3 months in a 36-month period, these 

individuals are required to work or 

participate in a work program at least 20 

hours a week, or participate and comply with 

a workfare program. States can apply to 

waive this requirement in certain areas where 

there are insufficient jobs. States are also 

issued a limited number of exemptions from 

the requirement each year, which they can 

assign to individuals to let them receive 

benefits for a longer period of time. In this 

report, all adults meeting this definition, 

regardless of exemption status, are identified 

as Adults Age 18 to 49 Without Disabilities 

in Childless Households. 

Total deduction. Includes child support 

payment, dependent care, earned income, 

excess shelter expense, medical expense, and 

standard deductions to which SNAP 

households are entitled. In some cases, the 

total deduction exceeds the amount deducted 

from gross income because net income may 

not be less than zero. See also Deductions. 

Unearned income. Includes TANF, GA, 

SSI, Social Security, unemployment benefits, 

veterans’ benefits, workers’ compensation, 

other government benefits, contributions, 

deemed income, education loans, child 

support, foster care payments, wage 

supplementations, energy assistance, State 

diversion payments, and other unearned 

income.

Work requirements. Many SNAP 

participants without disabilities are required 

to register for work or be registered by the 

State agency, must participate in a State 

Employment and Training or workfare 

program if assigned by the State agency, and 

must agree to accept any suitable job offered 

to them. Individuals exempt from SNAP 

work registration rules include the following: 

• All individuals under age 16 or age 60 

and over, and some individuals age 16 

and 17 

• Individuals physically or mentally 

unfit for work

• Individuals complying with work 

requirements of other assistance 

programs under TANF 

33
• Individuals responsible for the care of 

a dependent child under age 6 or the 

care of an incapacitated person

• Individuals receiving unemployment 

compensation 

• Regular participants in a drug 

addiction or alcohol treatment program 

• Individuals working 30 hours a week 

or earning more than an amount equal 

to 30 hours times the minimum wage

• Students enrolled at least half time in a 

school, training program, or institution 

of higher education 

34
APPENDIX A 

DETAILED TABLES OF SNAP HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

Note: All Appendix A table footnotes appear at the conclusion of this appendix, under Appendix A footnotes.

Table A.1. Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by household characteristic

 SNAP households

Participants in 

households with 

household characteristic Monthly SNAP benefits

Household characteristic

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 43,539 100.0 5,353,011 100.0

Household composition . . . . . . 

Children 9,221 42.9 29,764 68.4 3,581,836 66.9

School-age 7,348 34.2 25,103 57.7 2,962,980 55.4

Preschool-age 4,426 20.6 15,321 35.2 1,875,460 35.0

No children 12,290 57.1 13,775 31.6 1,771,175 33.1

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 5,752 13.2 581,387 10.9

No elderly individuals 16,830 78.2 37,787 86.8 4,771,624 89.1

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities 4,367 20.3 8,020 18.4 816,739 15.3

No non-elderly individuals with disabilities 17,144 79.7 35,519 81.6 4,536,272 84.7

Adults age 18 to 49 without disabilities in 

childless householdsa 3,529 16.4 4,243 9.7 670,721 12.5

No adults age 18 to 49 without disabilities 

in childless households 17,982 83.6 39,296 90.3 4,682,290 87.5

Noncitizens 1,344 6.2 3,259 7.5 389,110 7.3

No noncitizens 20,167 93.8 40,279 92.5 4,963,901 92.7

Locality . . . . . . 

Metropolitan 17,650 82.1 35,596 81.8 4,433,258 82.8

Micropolitanb 2,128 9.9 4,435 10.2 510,522 9.5

Rural 1,391 6.5 2,867 6.6 335,692 6.3

Unknown locality 342 1.6 642 1.5 73,540 1.4

Countable Income Source . . . . . . 

Gross income 17,118 79.6 36,652 84.2 4,125,132 77.1

No gross income 4,393 20.4 6,887 15.8 1,227,879 22.9

Net income 12,854 59.8 28,972 66.5 2,787,572 52.1

No net income 8,005 37.2 13,870 31.9 2,470,200 46.1

Not applicablec 652 3.0 696 1.6 95,238 1.8

Earned income 6,866 31.9 19,353 44.4 2,043,897 38.2

No earned income 14,645 68.1 24,186 55.6 3,309,114 61.8

Unearned income 12,313 57.2 23,795 54.7 2,666,553 49.8

No unearned income 9,198 42.8 19,743 45.3 2,686,458 50.2

TANF income 1,094 5.1 3,298 7.6 441,808 8.3

No TANF income 20,417 94.9 40,241 92.4 4,911,203 91.7

GA income 687 3.2 1,092 2.5 149,488 2.8

No GA income 20,824 96.8 42,447 97.5 5,203,523 97.2

SSI 4,584 21.3 7,796 17.9 853,586 15.9

No SSI 16,927 78.7 35,742 82.1 4,499,425 84.1

Social Security income 5,715 26.6 8,323 19.1 765,058 14.3

No Social Security income 15,796 73.4 35,216 80.9 4,587,953 85.7

Gross countable income as a percentage 

of poverty guidelines . . . . . . 

No income 4,393 20.4 6,887 15.8 1,227,879 22.9

1 to 50 percent 4,259 19.8 11,033 25.3 1,750,672 32.7

51 to 100 percent 8,999 41.8 17,680 40.6 1,966,137 36.7

101 to 130 percent 2,614 12.2 5,789 13.3 333,954 6.2

Greater than 130 percent 1,246 5.8 2,150 4.9 74,369 1.4

SNAP benefit . . . . . . 

Minimum benefit 1,739 8.1 2,057 4.7 27,848 0.5

Maximum benefit 8,282 38.5 14,147 32.5 2,523,947 47.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

37 
Table A.2. Average income as a percentage of poverty guidelines, gross and net countable income, total deduction, SNAP 

benefit, household size, and certification period of participating households by household characteristic

 Average values

Household characteristic

Gross countable 

income as a 

percentage of 

poverty 

guidelines

(percent)

Gross 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Net 

countable 

income 

(dollars)d

Total 

deduction 

(dollars)e

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Household 

size 

(individuals)

Certification 

period 

(months)

Total 60.8 814 374 539 249 2.0 13.4

Household composition . . . . . . .

Children 58.5 1,037 497 633 388 3.2 9.8

School-age 60.0 1,099 536 649 403 3.4 9.9

Preschool-age 55.3 1,034 488 642 424 3.5 9.6

No children 62.5 647 277 465 144 1.1 16.1

Elderly individuals 84.0 893 434 540 124 1.2 20.3

No elderly individuals 54.3 792 358 539 284 2.2 11.5

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 82.5 1,019 498 555 187 1.8 16.7

No non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 55.3 762 343 535 265 2.1 12.6

Adults age 18 to 49 without 

disabilities in childless 

householdsa 32.5 367 150 375 190 1.2 9.8

No adults age 18 to 49 without 

disabilities in childless 

households 66.3 902 419 572 260 2.2 14.1

Noncitizens 60.0 930 424 632 289 2.4 13.6

No noncitizens 60.8 807 370 533 246 2.0 13.4

Locality . . . . . . .

Metropolitan 60.7 812 360 554 251 2.0 13.4

Micropolitanb 61.9 842 451 483 240 2.1 13.0

Rural 58.9 793 427 448 241 2.1 13.0

Unknown locality 66.4 836 386 512 215 1.9 19.3

Countable income source . . . . . . .

Gross income 76.4 1,023 470 609 241 2.1 14.1

No gross income 0.0 0 0 266 279 1.6 10.5

Net income 86.7 1,191 607 584 217 2.3 13.6

No net income 18.9 224 0 468 309 1.7 11.0

Not applicable 64.1 631 n.a. 74 146 1.1 38.7

Earned income 81.7 1,306 609 743 298 2.8 9.9

No earned income 51.0 584 259 440 226 1.7 15.1

Unearned income 76.2 953 454 552 217 1.9 15.9

No unearned income 40.2 629 269 523 292 2.1 10.0

TANF income 46.7 798 347 517 404 3.0 11.1

No TANF income 61.6 815 375 540 241 2.0 13.5

GA income 51.1 638 240 523 217 1.6 14.2

No GA income 61.1 820 378 540 250 2.0 13.4

SSI 75.8 915 425 531 186 1.7 20.0

No SSI 56.7 787 361 541 266 2.1 11.6

Social Security income 92.8 1,037 517 554 134 1.5 18.2

No Social Security income 49.2 734 323 534 290 2.2 11.7

SNAP benefit . . . . . . .

Minimum benefit 130.8 1,382 995 387 16 1.2 15.7

Maximum benefit 21.1 245 0 468 305 1.7 11.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

38 
Table A.3. Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities by household characteristic

 Households with:

 Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0

Gross countable income . . . . . . . . 

$0 4,393 20.4 1,254 13.6 338 7.2 1 0.0

1 to 199 837 3.9 367 4.0 53 1.1 8 0.2

200 to 399 1,187 5.5 685 7.4 115 2.5 9 0.2

400 to 599 1,322 6.1 774 8.4 223 4.8 153 3.5

600 to 799 4,305 20.0 1,025 11.1 1,485 31.7 1,910 43.7

800 to 999 2,586 12.0 793 8.6 955 20.4 800 18.3

1,000 to 1,249 2,238 10.4 925 10.0 748 16.0 571 13.1

1,250 to 1,499 1,480 6.9 847 9.2 367 7.8 345 7.9

1,500 to 1,999 1,862 8.7 1,395 15.1 291 6.2 360 8.2

2,000 or greater 1,301 6.0 1,156 12.5 106 2.3 210 4.8

Net countable incomec . . . . . . . . 

$0 8,005 37.2 3,046 33.0 880 18.8 571 13.1

1 to 199 2,728 12.7 1,124 12.2 613 13.1 744 17.0

200 to 399 2,708 12.6 986 10.7 825 17.6 872 20.0

400 to 599 2,333 10.8 838 9.1 796 17.0 746 17.1

600 to 799 1,548 7.2 766 8.3 452 9.7 377 8.6

800 to 999 1,185 5.5 666 7.2 321 6.9 275 6.3

1,000 or greater 2,353 10.9 1,770 19.2 396 8.5 583 13.4

Gross countable income as a 

percentage of poverty guidelines . . . . . . . . 

No gross income 4,393 20.4 1,254 13.6 338 7.2 1 0.0

25 percent or less 1,787 8.3 1,085 11.8 98 2.1 26 0.6

26 to 50 percent 2,472 11.5 1,847 20.0 211 4.5 411 9.4

51 to 75 percent 3,845 17.9 1,845 20.0 841 18.0 1,388 31.8

76 to 100 percent 5,154 24.0 1,573 17.1 1,964 42.0 1,693 38.8

101 to 130 percent 2,614 12.2 1,227 13.3 750 16.0 603 13.8

131 percent or greater 1,246 5.8 391 4.2 479 10.2 246 5.6

Net countable income as a 

percentage of poverty guidelinesc . . . . . . . . 

No net income 8,005 37.2 3,046 33.0 880 18.8 571 13.1

25 percent or less 4,348 20.2 2,234 24.2 865 18.5 1,153 26.4

26 to 50 percent 3,957 18.4 1,856 20.1 1,090 23.3 1,187 27.2

51 to 75 percent 2,700 12.6 1,307 14.2 780 16.7 733 16.8

76 to 100 percent 1,301 6.0 645 7.0 408 8.7 378 8.7

101 to 130 percent 371 1.7 79 0.9 172 3.7 111 2.5

131 percent or greater 177 0.8 30 0.3 89 1.9 36 0.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

39 
40 

Table A.4. Distribution of participating households by household size and amount of countable gross and net income, and gross and net income as a percentage of 

poverty guidelines

 Household size (individuals)

 1 2 3 4 5 6+

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 11,352 100.0 4,027 100.0 2,756 100.0 1,918 100.0 879 100.0 579 100.0

Gross countable income . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$0 3,062 27.0 666 16.5 341 12.4 213 11.1 65 7.4 46 7.9

1 to 199 475 4.2 166 4.1 108 3.9 54 2.8 24 2.7 11 1.9

200 to 399 537 4.7 307 7.6 194 7.0 97 5.1 36 4.1 16 2.8

400 to 599 603 5.3 349 8.7 198 7.2 109 5.7 42 4.7 22 3.8

600 to 799 3,139 27.6 536 13.3 363 13.2 175 9.1 60 6.8 32 5.6

800 to 999 1,719 15.1 394 9.8 239 8.7 153 8.0 51 5.7 31 5.3

1,000 to 1,249 1,019 9.0 605 15.0 330 12.0 169 8.8 85 9.7 31 5.3

1,250 to 1,499 460 4.1 400 9.9 289 10.5 189 9.8 86 9.8 56 9.7

1,500 to 1,999 301 2.7 417 10.4 499 18.1 379 19.7 170 19.3 96 16.6

2,000 or greater 36 0.3 188 4.7 196 7.1 381 19.9 261 29.7 238 41.1

Net countable incomec . . . . . . . . . . . . 

$0 4,889 43.1 1,530 38.0 844 30.6 467 24.3 175 19.9 101 17.4

1 to 199 1,550 13.7 501 12.4 386 14.0 197 10.3 62 7.1 32 5.4

200 to 399 1,613 14.2 484 12.0 317 11.5 184 9.6 69 7.8 41 7.0

400 to 599 1,321 11.6 450 11.2 278 10.1 156 8.2 78 8.9 49 8.5

600 to 799 643 5.7 346 8.6 255 9.2 192 10.0 77 8.8 36 6.3

800 to 999 391 3.4 284 7.1 222 8.1 172 8.9 77 8.7 40 6.8

1,000 to 1,199 183 1.6 145 3.6 192 7.0 154 8.0 70 8.0 43 7.4

1,200 or greater 131 1.2 279 6.9 258 9.4 393 20.5 268 30.5 237 40.9

Gross countable income as a 

percentage of poverty guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No gross income 3,062 27.0 666 16.5 341 12.4 213 11.1 65 7.4 46 7.9

25 percent or less 676 6.0 391 9.7 337 12.2 209 10.9 102 11.6 73 12.6

26 to 50 percent 649 5.7 568 14.1 576 20.9 391 20.4 170 19.3 118 20.4

51 to 75 percent 1,804 15.9 803 19.9 534 19.4 367 19.1 206 23.5 131 22.7

76 to 100 percent 3,260 28.7 734 18.2 499 18.1 375 19.6 175 19.9 111 19.1

101 to 130 percent 1,187 10.5 535 13.3 377 13.7 296 15.4 135 15.4 84 14.6

131 percent or greater 715 6.3 330 8.2 92 3.3 67 3.5 27 3.0 16 2.7

Net countable income as a 

percentage of poverty guidelinesc . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No net income 4,889 43.1 1,530 38.0 844 30.6 467 24.3 175 19.9 101 17.4

25 percent or less 1,963 17.3 825 20.5 738 26.8 468 24.4 212 24.1 142 24.6

26 to 50 percent 1,851 16.3 749 18.6 546 19.8 448 23.3 221 25.2 142 24.5

51 to 75 percent 1,159 10.2 499 12.4 420 15.2 351 18.3 163 18.5 108 18.7

76 to 100 percent 526 4.6 228 5.7 203 7.4 172 9.0 97 11.1 74 12.8

101 to 130 percent 230 2.0 111 2.8 2 0.1 9 0.5 8 1.0 11 1.8

131 percent or greater 101 0.9 77 1.9 0 0.0 – – – – – – 

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
41 

Table A.5. Average gross and net countable income, average gross, and net countable income as a percentage of poverty guidelines, average countable resources, and 

average benefit of participating households by household composition and size

 Total households Average values

Household characteristic

Number

(000) Percent

Gross 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Net 

countable 

income 

(dollars)d

Gross countable 

income as a 

percentage of 

poverty 

guidelines 

(percent)

Net countable 

income as a 

percentage of 

poverty

guidelines 

(percent)d

Countable 

resources among 

households with 

countable 

resources 

(dollars)

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Total 21,511 100.0 814 374 60.8 26.5 383 249

Household composition . . . . . . . . 

Children 9,221 42.9 1,037 497 58.5 26.8 373 388

School-age 7,348 34.2 1,099 536 60.0 28.1 384 403

Preschool-age 4,426 20.6 1,034 488 55.3 24.9 382 424

No children 12,290 57.1 647 277 62.5 26.3 394 144

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 893 434 84.0 39.7 458 124

No elderly individuals 16,830 78.2 792 358 54.3 23.1 358 284

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities 4,367 20.3 1,019 498 82.5 37.4 424 187

No non-elderly individuals with disabilities 17,144 79.7 762 343 55.3 23.8 372 265

Household size . . . . . . . . 

1 person 11,352 52.8 589 231 60.0 23.6 400 136

2 people 4,027 18.7 849 382 63.9 28.7 334 255

3 people 2,756 12.8 981 442 58.6 26.4 325 380

4 people 1,918 8.9 1,235 635 61.0 31.4 416 460

5 people 879 4.1 1,485 829 62.6 34.9 429 527

6 people 374 1.7 1,713 1,020 63.0 37.5 344 625

7 people 118 0.5 1,893 1,179 61.6 38.4 562 679

8 or more people 86 0.4 1,934 1,165 54.3 32.4 635 897

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
Table A.6. Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities by type of countable income

 Households with:

 Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Type of income

Number 

(000)g Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0

Countable earned income 6,866 31.9 5,103 55.3 313 6.7 471 10.8

Wages and salaries 5,993 27.9 4,554 49.4 237 5.1 421 9.6

Self-employment 963 4.5 636 6.9 85 1.8 52 1.2

Other earned income 51 0.2 27 0.3 2 0.0 3 0.1

Countable unearned income 12,313 57.2 4,518 49.0 4,221 90.2 4,365 99.9

Temporary Assistance for Needy 

Families 1,094 5.1 1,046 11.3 33 0.7 175 4.0

General Assistance 687 3.2 151 1.6 179 3.8 160 3.7

Supplemental Security Income 4,584 21.3 1,073 11.6 1,660 35.5 2,968 68.0

Social Security 5,715 26.6 854 9.3 3,264 69.7 2,230 51.1

Unemployment income 260 1.2 144 1.6 20 0.4 17 0.4

Veterans’ benefits 147 0.7 24 0.3 82 1.8 30 0.7

Workers’ compensation 52 0.2 19 0.2 12 0.3 21 0.5

Other government benefitsh 138 0.6 37 0.4 68 1.5 30 0.7

Household contributions 617 2.9 400 4.3 77 1.7 47 1.1

Households deemed income 16 0.1 8 0.1 7 0.2 1 0.0

Educational loans 5 0.0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Child support enforcement 

payments 1,821 8.5 1,745 18.9 29 0.6 305 7.0

Foster care payments 6 0.0 6 0.1 0 0.0 2 0.1

Energy assistance income 4 0.0 1 0.0 1 0.0 2 0.0

Wage supplementation 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other unearned incomei 713 3.3 246 2.7 378 8.1 64 1.5

TANF or GA 1,778 8.3 1,193 12.9 212 4.5 331 7.6

TANF and earned income 247 1.1 245 2.7 3 0.1 13 0.3

TANF and SSI 174 0.8 165 1.8 9 0.2 163 3.7

TANF or SSI or GA 5,953 27.7 2,036 22.1 1,768 37.8 2,992 68.5

(TANF or SSI or GA) and earned 

income 650 3.0 513 5.6 40 0.8 346 7.9

TANF and child support 87 0.4 86 0.9 3 0.1 19 0.4

SSI and Social Security 1,733 8.1 262 2.8 908 19.4 856 19.6

SSI or Social Security 8,566 39.8 1,665 18.1 4,016 85.8 4,342 99.4

SSI and earned income 372 1.7 249 2.7 31 0.7 345 7.9

GA and earned income 55 0.3 37 0.4 7 0.1 11 0.2

Earned income and child support 906 4.2 888 9.6 10 0.2 55 1.3

No countable income 4,393 20.4 1,254 13.6 338 7.2 1 0.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

42 
Table A.7. Average income, total deduction, SNAP benefit, and household size of participating households by type of 

countable income

 Total households Average values

Type of income

Number 

(000)g Percent

Gross 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Net 

countable 

income 

(dollars)d

Income 

source 

(dollars)j

Total 

deduction 

(dollars)e

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Household 

size 

(individuals)

Total 21,511 100.0 814 374 – 539 249 2.0

Countable earned income 6,866 31.9 1,306 609 1,150 743 298 2.8

Wages and salaries 5,993 27.9 1,390 665 1,225 759 290 2.9

Self-employment 963 4.5 848 299 563 666 349 2.6

Other earned income 51 0.2 771 375 194 490 290 2.3

Countable unearned 

income 12,313 57.2 953 454 781 552 217 1.9

Temporary Assistance for 

Needy Families 1,094 5.1 798 347 413 517 404 3.0

General Assistance 687 3.2 638 240 231 523 217 1.6

Supplemental Security 

Income 4,584 21.3 915 425 581 531 186 1.7

Social Security 5,715 26.6 1,037 517 845 554 134 1.5

Unemployment income 260 1.2 1,248 717 889 573 247 2.6

Veterans’ benefits 147 0.7 1,115 652 539 507 130 1.6

Workers’ compensation 52 0.2 1,347 753 987 637 188 2.1

Other government benefitsh 138 0.6 1,019 547 410 522 189 1.9

Household contributions 617 2.9 707 258 301 540 341 2.4

Households deemed 

income 16 0.1 932 609 810 350 179 1.8

Educational loans 5 0.0 5,597 5306 5,327 362 125 2.3

Child support enforcement 

payments 1,821 8.5 1,170 615 333 608 373 3.4

Foster care payments 6 0.0 1,501 885 588 626 305 3.3

Energy assistance income 4 0.0 1,695 1133 505 604 88 2.3

Wage supplementation 0 0.0 1 0 1 505 194 1.0

Other unearned incomei 713 3.3 1,079 558 370 574 192 1.9

TANF or GA 1,778 8.3 736 305 344 520 332 2.5

TANF and earned income 247 1.1 1,277 659 1,206 648 366 3.4

TANF and SSI 174 0.8 1,238 732 1,008 518 340 3.4

TANF or SSI or GA 5,953 27.7 849 375 550 526 225 1.9

(TANF or SSI or GA) and 

earned income 650 3.0 1,535 892 1,428 667 286 3.3

TANF and child support 87 0.4 936 513 549 460 421 3.5

SSI and Social Security 1,733 8.1 907 431 849 511 152 1.5

SSI or Social Security 8,566 39.8 998 486 874 550 158 1.6

SSI and earned income 372 1.7 1,740 1082 1,570 672 231 3.3

GA and earned income 55 0.3 1,462 837 1,221 660 286 3.2

Earned income and child 

support 906 4.2 1,622 873 1,541 758 323 3.5

No countable income 4,393 20.4 0 0 0 266 279 1.6

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

43 
Table A.8. Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities by countable earned and unearned income amounts

 Households with:

 Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0

Countable earned income . . . . . . . . 

$0 14,645 68.1 4,118 44.7 4,368 93.3 3,896 89.2

1 to 199 527 2.4 220 2.4 49 1.1 82 1.9

200 to 399 510 2.4 300 3.2 33 0.7 42 1.0

400 to 599 635 3.0 411 4.5 65 1.4 49 1.1

600 to 799 739 3.4 515 5.6 36 0.8 64 1.5

800 to 999 788 3.7 558 6.0 32 0.7 65 1.5

1,000 to 1,249 895 4.2 647 7.0 28 0.6 52 1.2

1,250 to 1,499 777 3.6 628 6.8 29 0.6 49 1.1

1,500 to 1,999 1,145 5.3 1,023 11.1 25 0.5 36 0.8

2,000 or greater 850 4.0 802 8.7 16 0.3 32 0.7

Countable unearned income . . . . . . . . 

$0 9,198 42.8 4,704 51.0 460 9.8 3 0.1

1 to 199 918 4.3 614 6.7 47 1.0 10 0.2

200 to 399 1,378 6.4 999 10.8 129 2.7 23 0.5

400 to 599 1,150 5.3 721 7.8 217 4.6 198 4.5

600 to 799 4,063 18.9 859 9.3 1,511 32.3 2,125 48.7

800 to 999 1,998 9.3 393 4.3 960 20.5 822 18.8

1,000 to 1,249 1,429 6.6 351 3.8 730 15.6 566 13.0

1,250 to 1,499 699 3.2 236 2.6 330 7.1 303 6.9

1,500 or greater 678 3.2 345 3.7 296 6.3 317 7.3

Countable TANF income . . . . . . . . 

$0 20,417 94.9 8,176 88.7 4,648 99.3 4,192 96.0

1 to 199 211 1.0 195 2.1 9 0.2 56 1.3

200 to 399 396 1.8 371 4.0 13 0.3 78 1.8

400 to 599 282 1.3 277 3.0 8 0.2 30 0.7

600 to 799 154 0.7 152 1.6 1 0.0 9 0.2

800 to 999 25 0.1 25 0.3 0 0.0 1 0.0

1,000 or greater 26 0.1 26 0.3 1 0.0 1 0.0

Countable GA income . . . . . . . . 

$0 20,824 96.8 9,070 98.4 4,502 96.2 4,208 96.3

1 to 199 339 1.6 53 0.6 110 2.3 121 2.8

200 to 399 239 1.1 29 0.3 57 1.2 17 0.4

400 to 599 82 0.4 49 0.5 8 0.2 17 0.4

600 to 799 13 0.1 8 0.1 3 0.1 2 0.0

800 to 999 6 0.0 5 0.1 1 0.0 3 0.1

1,000 or greater 8 0.0 7 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0

Countable TANF or GA income . . . . . . . . 

$0 19,733 91.7 8,028 87.1 4,469 95.5 4,036 92.4

1 to 199 546 2.5 243 2.6 119 2.5 174 4.0

200 to 399 635 3.0 400 4.3 71 1.5 95 2.2

400 to 599 363 1.7 326 3.5 16 0.3 47 1.1

600 to 799 168 0.8 161 1.7 4 0.1 11 0.2

800 to 999 31 0.1 31 0.3 1 0.0 4 0.1

1,000 or greater 34 0.2 32 0.4 1 0.0 1 0.0

Countable SSI . . . . . . . . 

$0 16,927 78.7 8,148 88.4 3,021 64.5 1,399 32.0

1 to 199 756 3.5 81 0.9 408 8.7 353 8.1

200 to 399 574 2.7 77 0.8 304 6.5 272 6.2

400 to 599 561 2.6 128 1.4 225 4.8 341 7.8

600 to 799 2,203 10.2 627 6.8 535 11.4 1,681 38.5

800 to 999 250 1.2 19 0.2 125 2.7 131 3.0

1,000 or greater 241 1.1 141 1.5 64 1.4 191 4.4

44 
Table A.8 (continued)

 Households with:

 Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Countable SSI . . . . . . . . 

Maximum for a one-person 

householdk 1,429 6.6 380 4.1 359 7.7 1,078 24.7

Maximum for a two-person 

householdl 35 0.2 5 0.1 24 0.5 17 0.4

Countable Social Security . . . . . . . . 

$0 15,796 73.4 8,368 90.7 1,417 30.3 2,138 48.9

1 to 199 131 0.6 72 0.8 40 0.9 45 1.0

200 to 399 497 2.3 103 1.1 256 5.5 192 4.4

400 to 599 776 3.6 132 1.4 435 9.3 299 6.8

600 to 799 1,317 6.1 148 1.6 756 16.1 524 12.0

800 to 999 1,331 6.2 112 1.2 770 16.5 535 12.2

1,000 or greater 1,663 7.7 287 3.1 1,008 21.5 636 14.6

Other countable unearned income . . . . . . . . 

$0 17,881 83.1 6,725 72.9 4,018 85.8 3,873 88.7

1 to 199 1,168 5.4 699 7.6 272 5.8 189 4.3

200 to 399 1,078 5.0 815 8.8 185 3.9 134 3.1

400 to 599 574 2.7 429 4.6 82 1.8 76 1.7

600 to 799 287 1.3 201 2.2 42 0.9 35 0.8

800 to 999 205 1.0 141 1.5 31 0.7 23 0.5

1,000 or greater 317 1.5 211 2.3 50 1.1 36 0.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

45 
46 

Table A.9. Distribution of participating households by type of deduction and household composition, countable income source, and SNAP benefit amount

 Type of deduction

 

Total 

households Earned income Dependent care Excess shelter expense Medical expense

Child support 

payment

Household characteristic

Number

(000)

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Percent 

with 

maximumm

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 6,845 31.8 779 3.6 14,688 68.3 22.6 1,124 5.2 402 1.9

Household composition . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Children 9,221 5,095 55.3 778 8.4 7,024 76.2 36.2 129 1.4 194 2.1

School-age 7,348 4,145 56.4 562 7.6 5,732 78.0 36.5 111 1.5 158 2.2

Preschool-age 4,426 2,526 57.1 525 11.9 3,252 73.5 37.2 35 0.8 101 2.3

No children 12,290 1,750 14.2 2 0.0 7,664 62.4 10.2 995 8.1 208 1.7

Elderly individuals 4,681 311 6.6 1 0.0 3,462 74.0 0.0 739 15.8 32 0.7

No elderly individuals 16,830 6,534 38.8 778 4.6 11,226 66.7 29.6 385 2.3 370 2.2

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 4,367 463 10.6 49 1.1 3,502 80.2 0.2 399 9.1 126 2.9

No non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 17,144 6,382 37.2 731 4.3 11,186 65.3 29.7 725 4.2 276 1.6

Countable income source . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Gross income 17,118 6,845 40.0 771 4.5 13,548 79.1 20.3 1,122 6.6 389 2.3

No gross income 4,393 – – 9 0.2 1,140 26.0 50.5 2 0.0 13 0.3

Net income 12,854 5,431 42.2 649 5.0 10,182 79.2 15.7 982 7.6 310 2.4

No net income 8,005 1,409 17.6 130 1.6 4,506 56.3 38.3 142 1.8 92 1.2

Not applicablec 652 5 0.8 – – – – – – – – – 

Earned income 6,866 6,845 99.7 734 10.7 5,519 80.4 36.3 76 1.1 235 3.4

No earned income 14,645 – – 45 0.3 9,169 62.6 14.4 1,048 7.2 167 1.1

Unearned income 12,313 2,048 16.6 297 2.4 9,656 78.4 12.0 1,118 9.1 226 1.8

No unearned income 9,198 4,798 52.2 482 5.2 5,032 54.7 43.0 6 0.1 176 1.9

TANF income 1,094 246 22.5 18 1.7 882 80.6 32.1 12 1.1 5 0.4

No TANF income 20,417 6,600 32.3 761 3.7 13,806 67.6 22.0 1,112 5.4 397 1.9

GA income 687 54 7.8 3 0.4 545 79.3 20.4 8 1.2 6 0.9

No GA income 20,824 6,792 32.6 777 3.7 14,143 67.9 22.7 1,116 5.4 396 1.9

SSI 4,584 364 7.9 46 1.0 3,499 76.3 0.2 120 2.6 68 1.5

No SSI 16,927 6,482 38.3 733 4.3 11,189 66.1 29.6 1,004 5.9 334 2.0

Social Security income 5,715 420 7.3 28 0.5 4,568 79.9 2.0 1,063 18.6 129 2.3

No Social Security income 15,796 6,425 40.7 751 4.8 10,120 64.1 32.0 61 0.4 273 1.7

SNAP benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Minimum benefit 1,739 450 25.9 12 0.7 956 55.0 2.9 358 20.6 26 1.5

Maximum benefit 8,282 1,409 17.0 130 1.6 4,506 54.4 38.3 142 1.7 92 1.1

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
47 

Table A.10. Average values of deductions of participating households by household composition, countable income source, and SNAP benefit amount

 

Average amount of deduction

(dollars)

 Earned incomen Dependent careo Excess shelter expensep Medical expenseo Child support paymento

Household characteristic

All 

households

With 

deduction

All 

households

With 

deduction

All 

households

With 

deduction

All 

households

With 

deduction

All 

households

With 

deduction

Total 76 230 10 278 280 398 9 160 5 235

Household composition . . . . . . . . . .

Children 141 256 24 279 295 386 2 142 6 263

School-age 147 261 22 281 305 390 2 146 6 269

Preschool-age 155 271 35 290 277 376 1 143 6 267

No children 24 156 0 159 268 408 14 162 4 208

Elderly individuals 12 164 0 335 343 424 29 162 1 178

No elderly individuals 92 234 13 278 264 389 4 156 5 240

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 20 178 3 278 352 419 15 157 6 181

No non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities 90 234 12 279 262 391 7 162 4 259

Countable income source . . . . . . . . . .

Gross income 96 230 13 279 325 397 11 159 6 235

No gross income 0 0 1 269 106 398 0 729 1 210

Net income 114 268 14 268 279 353 11 146 5 221

No net income 15 86 5 332 281 499 5 255 3 281

Not applicablec 74 359 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Earned income 230 230 30 279 307 381 2 204 9 263

No earned income 0 0 1 269 267 407 12 157 2 195

Unearned income 36 206 7 273 331 404 15 158 4 210

No unearned income 127 241 15 282 214 386 0 473 5 266

TANF income 40 176 3 167 317 385 1 121 1 282

No TANF income 78 232 11 281 278 398 9 160 5 234

GA income 16 193 0 107 341 423 3 226 1 124

No GA income 78 231 11 279 278 397 9 160 5 236

SSI 18 190 3 270 344 401 5 168 2 141

No SSI 90 233 12 279 264 396 10 159 5 254

Social Security income 12 155 2 370 349 418 31 157 4 183

No Social Security income 99 235 14 275 255 388 1 218 5 259

SNAP benefit . . . . . . . . . .

Minimum benefit 70 271 1 157 131 238 26 128 3 192

Maximum benefit 15 86 5 332 281 499 5 255 3 281

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
48 

Table A.11. Distribution of participating households by selected household characteristics and amount of deduction

Households with:

Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities

Countable earned 

income

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0 6,866 100.0

Total deductionr

 . . . . . . . . . .

$0 to 154q

293 1.4 77 0.8 24 0.5 10 0.2 3 0.0

155 3,898 18.1 814 8.8 600 12.8 391 9.0 3 0.0

156 to 200 854 4.0 433 4.7 120 2.6 140 3.2 203 2.9

201 to 300 1,280 5.9 438 4.7 402 8.6 386 8.8 260 3.8

301 to 400 1,526 7.1 564 6.1 521 11.1 463 10.6 404 5.9

401 to 500 1,930 9.0 810 8.8 534 11.4 537 12.3 588 8.6

501 to 600 2,048 9.5 874 9.5 477 10.2 562 12.9 671 9.8

601 to 700 3,041 14.1 1,636 17.7 452 9.7 523 12.0 829 12.1

701 to 800 1,900 8.8 1,021 11.1 359 7.7 383 8.8 1,109 16.2

801 to 900 1,541 7.2 877 9.5 244 5.2 309 7.1 1,047 15.3

901 to 1,000 1,031 4.8 663 7.2 194 4.1 174 4.0 720 10.5

1,001 or greater 1,542 7.2 1,014 11.0 356 7.6 291 6.7 1,025 14.9

Earned income deductions . . . . . . . . . .

$0 13,873 64.5 4,126 44.7 3,898 83.3 3,615 82.8 17 0.2

1 to 50 653 3.0 283 3.1 59 1.3 89 2.0 653 9.5

51 to 100 717 3.3 452 4.9 63 1.3 53 1.2 717 10.4

101 to 150 835 3.9 560 6.1 54 1.1 72 1.7 835 12.2

151 to 200 998 4.6 713 7.7 42 0.9 82 1.9 998 14.5

201 to 250 893 4.1 649 7.0 27 0.6 51 1.2 893 13.0

251 to 300 767 3.6 624 6.8 25 0.5 49 1.1 767 11.2

301 to 350 687 3.2 610 6.6 17 0.4 24 0.6 687 10.0

351 to 400 452 2.1 407 4.4 8 0.2 12 0.3 452 6.6

401 or greater 845 3.9 798 8.6 16 0.3 32 0.7 845 12.3

Dependent care deductiont . . . . . . . . . .

$0 19,914 92.6 8,419 91.3 4,207 89.9 4,030 92.3 6,122 89.2

1 to 50 77 0.4 77 0.8 0 0.0 4 0.1 69 1.0

51 to 100 84 0.4 84 0.9 – – 4 0.1 81 1.2

101 to 150 102 0.5 101 1.1 – – 6 0.1 96 1.4

151 to 200 97 0.5 96 1.0 – – 7 0.2 91 1.3

201 to 250 80 0.4 80 0.9 – – 5 0.1 75 1.1

251 to 300 55 0.3 55 0.6 1 0.0 6 0.1 55 0.8

301 to 350 55 0.3 55 0.6 – – 1 0.0 53 0.8

351 to 400 42 0.2 42 0.5 – – 3 0.1 40 0.6

401 or greater 186 0.9 186 2.0 0 0.0 12 0.3 175 2.5

Medical expense deductiont . . . . . . . . . .

$0 19,569 91.0 9,067 98.3 3,470 74.1 3,679 84.2 6,779 98.7

1 to 50 87 0.4 8 0.1 51 1.1 36 0.8 8 0.1
Table A.11 (continued)

49 

Households with:

Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities

Countable earned 

income

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Number 

(000) Percentv

Medical expense deductiont . . . . . . . . . .

51 to 100 406 1.9 48 0.5 268 5.7 144 3.3 26 0.4

101 to 150 212 1.0 33 0.4 135 2.9 79 1.8 13 0.2

151 to 200 175 0.8 20 0.2 113 2.4 64 1.5 10 0.2

201 to 250 74 0.3 3 0.0 58 1.2 17 0.4 4 0.1

251 to 300 51 0.2 10 0.1 33 0.7 19 0.4 4 0.1

301 or greater 119 0.6 7 0.1 80 1.7 40 0.9 13 0.2

Child support payment deductionu . . . . . . . . . .

$0 20,291 94.3 9,003 97.6 4,177 89.2 3,952 90.5 6,621 96.4

1 to 50 66 0.3 22 0.2 8 0.2 30 0.7 25 0.4

51 to 100 62 0.3 28 0.3 6 0.1 28 0.6 31 0.5

101 to 150 39 0.2 19 0.2 4 0.1 13 0.3 22 0.3

151 to 200 41 0.2 21 0.2 2 0.0 9 0.2 28 0.4

201 to 250 40 0.2 23 0.2 3 0.1 11 0.3 23 0.3

251 to 300 44 0.2 24 0.3 3 0.1 10 0.2 34 0.5

301 to 350 32 0.1 16 0.2 1 0.0 8 0.2 21 0.3

351 to 400 17 0.1 9 0.1 3 0.1 5 0.1 11 0.2

401 or greater 60 0.3 33 0.4 1 0.0 12 0.3 40 0.6

Excess shelter expense deductionu . . . . . . . . . .

$0 6,171 28.7 2,172 23.6 822 17.6 668 15.3 1,337 19.5

1 to 50 672 3.1 302 3.3 155 3.3 133 3.0 212 3.1

51 to 100 624 2.9 276 3.0 167 3.6 184 4.2 239 3.5

101 to 150 706 3.3 338 3.7 206 4.4 199 4.6 265 3.9

151 to 200 832 3.9 392 4.3 231 4.9 234 5.4 295 4.3

201 to 250 935 4.3 388 4.2 295 6.3 235 5.4 337 4.9

251 to 300 989 4.6 459 5.0 254 5.4 252 5.8 355 5.2

301 to 350 1,153 5.4 514 5.6 269 5.7 301 6.9 382 5.6

351 to 400 1,161 5.4 506 5.5 256 5.5 283 6.5 418 6.1

401 to 450 1,004 4.7 465 5.0 240 5.1 262 6.0 403 5.9

451 to 500 915 4.3 426 4.6 221 4.7 242 5.5 372 5.4

501 to 550w 3,846 17.9 2,632 28.5 242 5.2 249 5.7 2,062 30.0

551 to 600 349 1.6 34 0.4 174 3.7 175 4.0 25 0.4

601 or greater 1,502 7.0 292 3.2 751 16.1 752 17.2 155 2.3

No deduction 6,171 28.7 2,172 23.6 822 17.6 668 15.3 1,337 19.5

Deduction less than capx 9,072 42.2 4,107 44.5 2,311 49.4 2,342 53.6 3,316 48.3

Deduction equal to cap 3,325 15.5 2,544 27.6 1 0.0 6 0.1 2,003 29.2

Benefit less than maximum benefit 1,600 7.4 1,365 14.8 1 0.0 6 0.1 1,351 19.7

Benefit equal to maximum benefit 1,724 8.0 1,179 12.8 – – – – 652 9.5

Deduction greater than cap 2,291 10.7 374 4.1 1,150 24.6 1,154 26.4 201 2.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
50 

Table A.12. Distribution of participating households by selected household characteristics and SNAP benefit amount, SNAP benefit as a percentage of the maximum 

benefit, and certification period

Households with:

Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Countable earned 

income

Countable TANF 

income

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0 6,866 100.0 1,094 100.0

SNAP benefit (dollars) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Minimum benefit or lessy 1,771 8.2 160 1.7 909 19.4 541 12.4 459 6.7 16 1.4

Greater than the minimum to 50 875 4.1 96 1.0 406 8.7 338 7.7 159 2.3 5 0.5

51 to 100 1,824 8.5 313 3.4 833 17.8 593 13.6 423 6.2 18 1.6

101 to 193 3,325 15.5 799 8.7 1,122 24.0 1,168 26.7 994 14.5 55 5.0

194 56 0.3 9 0.1 36 0.8 13 0.3 8 0.1 1 0.1

195 to 300 6,948 32.3 1,636 17.7 1,145 24.5 912 20.9 1,794 26.1 197 18.0

301 to 400 2,899 13.5 2,453 26.6 170 3.6 326 7.5 1,244 18.1 337 30.8

401 to 500 1,027 4.8 999 10.8 26 0.5 176 4.0 662 9.6 134 12.3

501 to 600 1,421 6.6 1,398 15.2 17 0.4 158 3.6 577 8.4 179 16.3

601 or greater 1,366 6.4 1,358 14.7 18 0.4 142 3.2 547 8.0 153 13.9

Benefit as a percentage of the 

maximum . . . . . . . . . . . .

Minimum 1,739 8.1 149 1.6 900 19.2 526 12.0 450 6.6 16 1.4

Less than 25 percentz 1,385 6.4 555 6.0 460 9.8 464 10.6 556 8.1 31 2.9

25 to 50 percent 2,998 13.9 1,393 15.1 916 19.6 827 18.9 1,312 19.1 90 8.2

51 to 75 percent 3,482 16.2 1,905 20.7 777 16.6 1,015 23.2 1,642 23.9 164 15.0

76 to 99 percent 3,626 16.9 2,174 23.6 592 12.6 844 19.3 1,483 21.6 426 39.0

Maximum 8,282 38.5 3,046 33.0 1,037 22.2 691 15.8 1,422 20.7 367 33.5

Months in certification period . . . . . . . . . . . .

Average 13 n.a. 10 n.a. 20 n.a. 17 n.a. 10 n.a. 11 n.a.

Median 12 n.a. 12 n.a. 24 n.a. 12 n.a. 12 n.a. 12 n.a.

1 to 5 months 405 1.9 137 1.5 20 0.4 25 0.6 106 1.5 13 1.2

6 months 5,429 25.2 3,489 37.8 256 5.5 615 14.1 2,526 36.8 193 17.6

7 to 11 months 392 1.8 217 2.4 47 1.0 63 1.4 138 2.0 48 4.4

12 months 10,853 50.5 5,058 54.8 1,832 39.1 2,045 46.8 3,875 56.4 797 72.9

13 to 23 months 347 1.6 151 1.6 77 1.6 80 1.8 96 1.4 10 0.9

24 months 2,961 13.8 143 1.6 1,770 37.8 1,146 26.2 111 1.6 28 2.6

25 to 35 months 113 0.5 10 0.1 67 1.4 45 1.0 4 0.1 2 0.1

36 months 595 2.8 6 0.1 359 7.7 203 4.6 2 0.0 0 0.0

37 or more months 391 1.8 - - 251 5.4 140 3.2 - - - -

Unknown 25 0.1 11 0.1 3 0.1 6 0.1 7 0.1 3 0.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
Table A.13. Distribution of participating households by type of most recent action and expedited service

 Total households Entrants Other households

Most recent action and expedited service

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 882 100.0 20,629 100.0

Initial certification 8,117 37.7 882 100.0 7,236 35.1

Eligible for and receiving expedited service 2,526 11.7 441 50.0 2,086 10.1

Eligible for but did not receive expedited service 411 1.9 46 5.2 366 1.8

Not eligible for expedited service 5,179 24.1 395 44.8 4,784 23.2

Recertification 13,394 62.3 n.a. n.a. 13,394 64.9

Eligible for and receiving expedited service 139 0.6 n.a. n.a. 139 0.7

Eligible for but did not receive expedited service 35 0.2 n.a. n.a. 35 0.2

Not eligible for expedited service 13,220 61.5 n.a. n.a. 13,220 64.1

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

51 
Table A.14. Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by household composition

 SNAP households

Participants in 

households with 

household 

characteristic

Monthly SNAP 

benefits

Household composition

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Dollars

(000) Percent

Totalaa 21,511 100.0 43,539 100.0 5,353,011 100.0

Children, elderly individuals, or individuals 

with disabilities 16,736 77.8 38,302 88.0 4,471,592 83.5

Childrenbb 9,221 42.9 29,764 68.4 3,581,836 66.9

Single-adult household 5,387 25.0 15,936 36.6 2,030,311 37.9

Male adult 423 2.0 1,136 2.6 146,049 2.7

Female adult 4,965 23.1 14,800 34.0 1,884,262 35.2

Multiple adult-household 2,551 11.9 11,009 25.3 1,153,393 21.5

Married-head 1,597 7.4 7,029 16.1 709,055 13.2

Other multiple-adult 954 4.4 3,981 9.1 444,338 8.3

Children only 1,283 6.0 2,819 6.5 398,132 7.4

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 5,752 13.2 581,387 10.9

Living alone 3,860 17.9 3,860 8.9 410,915 7.7

Living with only elderly individuals 415 1.9 831 1.9 72,145 1.3

Living with at least one non-elderly individual 406 1.9 1,061 2.4 98,327 1.8

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities 4,367 20.3 8,020 18.4 816,739 15.3

Living alone 2,727 12.7 2,727 6.3 299,498 5.6

Not living alone 1,641 7.6 5,294 12.2 517,241 9.7

Other householdscc 4,775 22.2 5,237 12.0 881,419 16.5

Single-person 4,381 20.4 4,381 10.1 766,386 14.3

Multiperson 394 1.8 856 2.0 115,033 2.1

Adults age 18 to 49 without disabilities in 

childless householdsa 3,529 16.4 4,243 9.7 670,721 12.5

Living alone 2,961 13.8 2,961 6.8 515,903 9.6

Not living alone 567 2.6 1,281 2.9 154,819 2.9

Single-person households 11,352 52.8 11,352 26.1 1,542,665 28.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

52 
Table A.15. Average gross countable income as a percentage of poverty guidelines, gross and net countable income, total 

deduction, SNAP benefit, household size, and certification period of participating households by household composition

 Average values

Household composition

Gross 

countable 

income as a 

percentage of 

poverty 

guidelines

(percent)

Gross 

countable 

income 

(dollars)

Net 

countable 

income 

(dollars)d

Total 

deduction 

(dollars)e

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Household 

size 

(individuals)

Certification 

period 

(months)

Totalaa 60.8 814 374 539 249 2.0 13.4

Children, elderly individuals, or 

individuals with disabilities 70.4 964 453 593 267 2.3 14.4

Childrenbb 58.5 1,037 497 633 388 3.2 9.8

Single-adult household 54.8 902 413 587 377 3.0 9.9

Male adult 53.2 834 396 567 346 2.7 10.2

Female adult 54.9 908 415 589 380 3.0 9.8

Multiple adult-household 68.0 1,453 796 732 452 4.3 9.8

Married-head 71.7 1,553 861 761 444 4.4 9.8

Other multiple-adult 61.9 1,286 686 684 466 4.2 9.8

Children only 54.9 777 251 627 310 2.2 9.5

Elderly individuals 84.0 893 434 540 124 1.2 20.3

Living alone 82.8 813 363 528 106 1.0 21.4

Living with only elderly individuals 93.4 1,243 709 583 174 2.0 18.6

Living with at least one non-elderly 

individual 85.8 1,304 755 601 242 2.6 11.8

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 82.5 1,019 498 555 187 1.8 16.7

Living alone 86.5 848 332 542 110 1.0 19.8

Not living alone 75.9 1,302 754 575 315 3.2 11.5

Other householdscc 27.3 288 106 355 185 1.1 9.9

Single-person 24.4 240 80 337 175 1.0 9.9

Multiperson 59.6 826 388 564 292 2.2 9.9

Adults age 18 to 49 without 

disabilities in childless householdsa 32.5 367 150 375 190 1.2 9.8

Living alone 25.6 251 86 336 174 1.0 9.7

Not living alone 68.8 975 481 578 273 2.3 10.3

Single-person households 60.0 589 231 454 136 1.0 16.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

53 
54 

Table A.16. Distribution of participating households by countable income type and household composition

 Countable income type

 Earned income Zero gross income TANF income GA income SSI

Social Security 

income

Household composition

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Totalaa 6,866 100.0 4,393 100.0 1,094 100.0 687 100.0 4,584 100.0 5,715 100.0

Children, elderly individuals, or 

individuals with disabilities 5,538 80.7 1,590 36.2 1,055 96.4 410 59.6 4,584 100.0 5,692 99.6

Childrenbb 5,103 74.3 1,254 28.5 1,046 95.6 151 22.0 1,073 23.4 854 14.9

Single-adult household 2,495 36.3 899 20.5 668 61.1 102 14.8 663 14.5 534 9.3

Male adult 166 2.4 103 2.3 57 5.2 4 0.6 35 0.8 66 1.1

Female adult 2,330 33.9 795 18.1 611 55.9 97 14.2 628 13.7 469 8.2

Multiple adult-household 1,710 24.9 242 5.5 200 18.3 38 5.5 369 8.0 293 5.1

Married-head 1,154 16.8 137 3.1 111 10.1 21 3.1 176 3.8 156 2.7

Other multiple-adult 556 8.1 105 2.4 89 8.1 17 2.5 192 4.2 137 2.4

Children only 899 13.1 113 2.6 178 16.3 11 1.7 42 0.9 26 0.5

Elderly individuals 313 4.6 338 7.7 33 3.1 179 26.0 1,660 36.2 3,264 57.1

Living alone 173 2.5 313 7.1 0 0.0 142 20.6 1,372 29.9 2,688 47.0

Living with only elderly individuals 29 0.4 17 0.4 0 0.0 17 2.4 165 3.6 306 5.3

Living with at least one non-elderly 

individual 111 1.6 8 0.2 33 3.0 21 3.0 123 2.7 270 4.7

Non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities 471 6.9 1 0.0 175 16.0 160 23.2 2,968 64.8 2,230 39.0

Living alone 128 1.9 1 0.0 1 0.1 79 11.5 1,712 37.4 1,541 27.0

Not living alone 343 5.0 0 0.0 174 15.9 81 11.7 1,256 27.4 689 12.1

Other householdscc 1,328 19.3 2,803 63.8 40 3.6 278 40.4 0 0.0 23 0.4

Single-person 1,109 16.2 2,702 61.5 25 2.3 272 39.5 0 0.0 6 0.1

Multiperson 219 3.2 101 2.3 15 1.3 6 0.9 – – 17 0.3

Adults age 18 to 49 without 

disabilities in childless 

householdsa 1,040 15.1 1,910 43.5 42 3.9 189 27.5 126 2.7 137 2.4

Living alone 780 11.4 1,827 41.6 21 1.9 177 25.7 0 0.0 5 0.1

Not living alone 259 3.8 83 1.9 22 2.0 13 1.8 126 2.7 132 2.3

Single-person households 1,652 24.1 3,062 69.7 90 8.2 494 71.9 3,086 67.3 4,251 74.4

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
55 

Table A.17. Distribution of participating households with children, elderly individuals, and non-elderly individuals with disabilities by selected characteristics

 Households with:

 Total households Children

School-age 

children

Preschool-age 

children

Elderly 

individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 7,348 100.0 4,426 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0

Household composition . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Children 9,221 42.9 9,221 100.0 7,348 100.0 4,426 100.0 181 3.9 1,289 29.5

School-age 7,348 34.2 7,348 79.7 7,348 100.0 2,553 57.7 167 3.6 1,140 26.1

Preschool-age 4,426 20.6 4,426 48.0 2,553 34.7 4,426 100.0 30 0.6 423 9.7

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 181 2.0 167 2.3 30 0.7 4,681 100.0 81 1.9

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities 4,367 20.3 1,289 14.0 1,140 15.5 423 9.6 81 1.7 4,367 100.0

Countable income source . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Gross income 17,118 79.6 7,968 86.4 6,498 88.4 3,731 84.3 4,343 92.8 4,366 100.0

No gross income 4,393 20.4 1,254 13.6 850 11.6 695 15.7 338 7.2 1 0.0

Net income 12,854 59.8 6,150 66.7 5,100 69.4 2,885 65.2 3,404 72.7 3,598 82.4

No net income 8,005 37.2 3,046 33.0 2,228 30.3 1,528 34.5 880 18.8 571 13.1

Not applicablec 652 3.0 25 0.3 20 0.3 13 0.3 397 8.5 198 4.5

Earned income 6,866 31.9 5,103 55.3 4,152 56.5 2,530 57.2 313 6.7 471 10.8

Unearned income 12,313 57.2 4,518 49.0 3,809 51.8 1,924 43.5 4,221 90.2 4,365 99.9

TANF income 1,094 5.1 1,046 11.3 781 10.6 537 12.1 33 0.7 175 4.0

GA income 687 3.2 151 1.6 125 1.7 72 1.6 179 3.8 160 3.7

SSI 4,584 21.3 1,073 11.6 954 13.0 363 8.2 1,660 35.5 2,968 68.0

Social Security income 5,715 26.6 854 9.3 771 10.5 224 5.1 3,264 69.7 2,230 51.1

Countable resources 821 3.8 425 4.6 356 4.8 206 4.7 203 4.3 173 4.0

Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Total deduction 20,864 97.0 9,202 99.8 7,333 99.8 4,416 99.8 4,284 91.5 4,169 95.5

Standard deduction 20,859 97.0 9,196 99.7 7,329 99.7 4,414 99.7 4,284 91.5 4,169 95.5

Earned income deduction 6,845 31.8 5,095 55.3 4,145 56.4 2,526 57.1 311 6.6 463 10.6

Dependent care deduction 779 3.6 778 8.4 562 7.6 525 11.9 1 0.0 49 1.1

Excess shelter expense deduction 14,688 68.3 7,024 76.2 5,732 78.0 3,252 73.5 3,462 74.0 3,502 80.2

Medical expense deduction 1,124 5.2 129 1.4 111 1.5 35 0.8 739 15.8 399 9.1

Child support payment deduction 402 1.9 194 2.1 158 2.2 101 2.3 32 0.7 126 2.9

SNAP benefit (dollars) . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Minimum benefit or lessy 1,771 8.2 160 1.7 123 1.7 42 0.9 909 19.4 541 12.4

Greater than the minimum to 100 2,699 12.5 409 4.4 307 4.2 163 3.7 1,239 26.5 930 21.3

101 to 200 8,756 40.7 1,167 12.7 863 11.7 438 9.9 2,121 45.3 1,765 40.4

201 to 300 1,572 7.3 1,277 13.8 1,016 13.8 553 12.5 181 3.9 329 7.5

Greater than 300 6,713 31.2 6,209 67.3 5,038 68.6 3,230 73.0 231 4.9 803 18.4

Minimum benefit 1,739 8.1 149 1.6 113 1.5 38 0.9 900 19.2 526 12.0

Maximum benefit 8,282 38.5 3,046 33.0 2,228 30.3 1,528 34.5 1,037 22.2 691 15.8
Table A.17 (continued)

56 

 Households with:

 Total households Children

School-age 

children

Preschool-age 

children

Elderly 

individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Household characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Household size . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1 person 11,352 52.8 392 4.2 253 3.4 138 3.1 3,860 82.5 2,727 62.4

2 people 4,027 18.7 2,832 30.7 1,856 25.3 1,148 25.9 673 14.4 664 15.2

3 people 2,756 12.8 2,642 28.7 2,132 29.0 1,235 27.9 85 1.8 401 9.2

4 people 1,918 8.9 1,898 20.6 1,687 23.0 996 22.5 41 0.9 306 7.0

5 people 879 4.1 878 9.5 846 11.5 517 11.7 11 0.2 152 3.5

6 or more people 579 2.7 579 6.3 573 7.8 393 8.9 10 0.2 117 2.7

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
Table A.18. Average values of selected characteristics for participating households with children, elderly individuals, and 

nonelderly individuals with disabilities

 Average values for households with:

Household characteristic

Average 

values Children

School-age 

children

Preschool-age 

children

Elderly 

individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals 

with 

disabilities

Countable income (dollars) . . . . . . 

Gross income 814 1,037 1,099 1,034 893 1,019

Net incomed 374 497 536 488 434 498

Earned income 367 708 735 774 55 95

Unearned income 447 329 363 260 839 924

TANF income 21 48 46 53 2 12

GA income 7 6 7 7 7 5 

SSI 124 84 95 61 173 432

Social Security income 224 77 87 38 606 432

Countable income as a percentage 

of poverty guidelines (percent) . . . . . . 

Gross income 60.8 58.5 60.0 55.3 84.0 82.5

Net incomed 25.7 26.7 28.0 24.8 36.3 35.7

Deductions (dollars) . . . . . . 

Total deductione 539 633 649 642 540 555

Earned income deduction . . . . . . 

All householdsn 76 141 147 155 12 20

Households with deduction 230 256 261 271 164 178

Dependent care deduction . . . . . . 

All householdso 10 24 22 35 0 3 

Households with deduction 278 279 281 290 335 278

Excess shelter expense deduction . . . . . . 

All householdsp 280 295 305 277 343 352

Households with deduction 398 386 390 376 424 419

Medical expense deduction . . . . . . 

All householdso 9 2 2 1 29 15

Households with deduction 160 142 146 143 162 157

Child support payment deduction . . . . . . 

All householdsp 5 6 6 6 1 6 

Households with deduction 235 263 269 267 178 181

SNAP benefit (dollars) 249 388 403 424 124 187

Household size (individuals) 2.0 3.2 3.4 3.5 1.2 1.8

Certification period (months) 13.4 9.8 9.9 9.6 20.3 16.7

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

57 
Table A.19. Distribution of participating households with countable earned and unearned income by selected characteristics

 Countable income type

 Total households Earned income Unearned income TANF income GA income

Household 

characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 6,866 100.0 12,313 100.0 1,094 100.0 687 100.0

Household 

composition . . . . . . . . . . 

Children 9,221 42.9 5,103 74.3 4,518 36.7 1,046 95.6 151 22.0

School-age 7,348 34.2 4,152 60.5 3,809 30.9 781 71.4 125 18.2

Preschool-age 4,426 20.6 2,530 36.8 1,924 15.6 537 49.0 72 10.4

Elderly individuals 4,681 21.8 313 4.6 4,221 34.3 33 3.1 179 26.0

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities 4,367 20.3 471 6.9 4,365 35.4 175 16.0 160 23.2

Countable income 

source . . . . . . . . . . 

Gross income 17,118 79.6 6,866 100.0 12,313 100.0 1,094 100.0 687 100.0

No gross incomedd 4,393 20.4 – – 0 0.0 – – – – 

Net income 12,854 59.8 5,437 79.2 9,283 75.4 703 64.2 366 53.2

No net income 8,005 37.2 1,419 20.7 2,500 20.3 367 33.5 311 45.2

Not applicablec 652 3.0 10 0.1 530 4.3 24 2.2 11 1.6

Earned income 6,866 31.9 6,866 100.0 2,061 16.7 247 22.6 55 8.0

Unearned income 12,313 57.2 2,061 30.0 12,313 100.0 1,094 100.0 687 100.0

TANF income 1,094 5.1 247 3.6 1,094 8.9 1,094 100.0 4 0.6

GA income 687 3.2 55 0.8 687 5.6 4 0.4 687 100.0

SSI 4,584 21.3 372 5.4 4,584 37.2 174 15.9 238 34.7

Social Security 

income 5,715 26.6 427 6.2 5,715 46.4 88 8.0 116 16.9

Deductions . . . . . . . . . . 

Total deduction 20,864 97.0 6,861 99.9 11,787 95.7 1,074 98.2 676 98.4

Standard deduction 20,859 97.0 6,856 99.9 11,783 95.7 1,070 97.8 676 98.4

Earned income 

deduction 6,845 31.8 6,845 99.7 2,048 16.6 246 22.5 54 7.8

Dependent care 

deduction 779 3.6 734 10.7 297 2.4 18 1.7 3 0.4

Excess shelter 

expense deduction 14,688 68.3 5,519 80.4 9,656 78.4 882 80.6 545 79.3

Medical expense 

deduction 1,124 5.2 76 1.1 1,118 9.1 12 1.1 8 1.2

Child support payment 

deduction 402 1.9 235 3.4 226 1.8 5 0.4 6 0.9

SNAP benefit (dollars) . . . . . . . . . . 

Minimum benefit or 

lessy 1,771 8.2 459 6.7 1,535 12.5 16 1.4 23 3.3

Greater than the 

minimum to 100 2,699 12.5 581 8.5 2,211 18.0 23 2.1 62 9.0

101 to 200 8,756 40.7 1,770 25.8 4,480 36.4 128 11.7 449 65.4

201 to 300 1,572 7.3 1,025 14.9 876 7.1 125 11.5 34 5.0

Greater than 300 6,713 31.2 3,030 44.1 3,212 26.1 802 73.3 119 17.3

Minimum benefit 1,739 8.1 450 6.6 1,507 12.2 16 1.4 23 3.3

Maximum benefit 8,282 38.5 1,422 20.7 2,777 22.6 367 33.5 322 46.8

Household size . . . . . . . . . . 

1 person 11,352 52.8 1,652 24.1 6,961 56.5 90 8.2 494 71.9

2 people 4,027 18.7 1,617 23.5 2,229 18.1 374 34.1 93 13.6

3 people 2,756 12.8 1,498 21.8 1,394 11.3 316 28.9 43 6.2

4 people 1,918 8.9 1,144 16.7 950 7.7 164 15.0 26 3.7

5 people 879 4.1 564 8.2 460 3.7 90 8.3 18 2.7

6 or more people 579 2.7 392 5.7 319 2.6 60 5.5 13 1.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

58 
Table A.20. Average values of selected characteristics for participating households with countable earned and unearned 

income

 Average values for households with countable:

Household characteristic

Average 

values

Earned 

income

Unearned 

income

TANF 

income

GA 

income

Countable income (dollars) . . . . . 

Gross income 814 1,306 953 798 638

Net incomed 374 609 454 347 240

Earned income 367 1,150 172 194 76

Unearned income 447 156 781 604 562

TANF income 21 13 37 413 2 

GA income 7 2 13 0 231

SSI 124 34 216 112 204

Social Security income 224 47 392 50 107

Countable income as a percentage of poverty 

guidelines (percent) . . . . . 

Gross income 60.8 81.7 76.2 46.7 51.1

Net incomed 25.7 36.0 32.9 18.3 16.6

Deductions (dollars) . . . . . 

Total deductione 539 743 552 517 523

Earned income deduction . . . . . 

All householdsn 76 230 36 40 16

Households with deduction 230 230 206 176 193

Dependent care deduction . . . . . 

All householdso 10 30 7 3 0 

Households with deduction 278 279 273 167 107

Excess shelter expense deduction . . . . . 

All householdsp 280 307 331 317 341

Households with deduction 398 381 404 385 423

Medical expense deduction . . . . . 

All householdso 9 2 15 1 3 

Households with deduction 160 204 158 121 226

Child support payment deduction . . . . . 

All householdsp 5 9 4 1 1 

Households with deduction 235 263 210 282 124

SNAP benefit (dollars) 249 298 217 404 217

Household size (individuals) 2.0 2.8 1.9 3.0 1.6

Certification period (months) 13.4 9.9 15.9 11.1 14.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

59 
60 

Table A.21. Distribution of participating households with selected household characteristics by race and Hispanic status of household head

 Households with:

 Total households Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Countable earned 

income

Countable TANF 

income

Characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0 6,866 100.0 1,094 100.0

Race and Hispanic status of 

household headee . . . . . . . . . . . . 

White, not Hispanic 8,375 38.9 2,920 31.7 1,976 42.2 2,071 47.4 2,322 33.8 264 24.1

African American, not Hispanic 5,349 24.9 2,235 24.2 1,009 21.6 1,175 26.9 1,515 22.1 292 26.6

Hispanic, any race 2,549 11.8 1,100 11.9 678 14.5 301 6.9 846 12.3 217 19.8

Asian, not Hispanic 597 2.8 233 2.5 245 5.2 61 1.4 219 3.2 32 2.9

Native American, not Hispanic 244 1.1 118 1.3 35 0.8 38 0.9 68 1.0 22 2.0

Multiple races reported, not Hispanic 166 0.8 68 0.7 57 1.2 42 1.0 49 0.7 13 1.2

Race unknown 2,743 12.8 1,108 12.0 674 14.4 627 14.3 819 11.9 70 6.4

Nonparticipating household headff 1,488 6.9 1,440 15.6 6 0.1 51 1.2 1,028 15.0 185 16.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
61 

Table A.22. Distribution of participating households by presence of a household member with selected characteristics

 Households with:

 Total households

Average 

value Children Elderly individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Countable earned 

income

Countable TANF 

income

Characteristic

Number 

(000) Percent

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 249 9,221 100.0 4,681 100.0 4,367 100.0 6,866 100.0 1,094 100.0

Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

U.S. - born citizen 19,772 91.9 254 9,028 97.9 3,563 76.1 4,240 97.1 6,569 95.7 1,037 94.8

Naturalized citizen 1,455 6.8 240 482 5.2 777 16.6 130 3.0 461 6.7 35 3.2

Refugee 214 1.0 342 127 1.4 29 0.6 11 0.3 94 1.4 42 3.8

Other noncitizen 1,140 5.3 281 511 5.5 426 9.1 97 2.2 465 6.8 49 4.5

Citizen children living with 

participating noncitizen adults 428 2.0 427 428 4.6 13 0.3 44 1.0 312 4.5 30 2.8

Citizen children living with 

nonparticipating noncitizen adults 1,338 6.2 336 1,338 14.5 5 0.1 43 1.0 1,032 15.0 178 16.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
Table A.23. Gender and SNAP benefits of participants by selected demographic characteristics

 Total participants Female participants Male participants Prorated benefitshh

Participant characteristic

Number

(000) Percentgg

Number

(000) Percentgg

Number

(000) Percentgg

Dollars

(000) Percentgg

Total 43,539 100.0 24,666 56.7 18,873 43.3 5,353,011 100.0

Age . . . . . . . . 

Child 19,212 44.1 9,447 21.7 9,765 22.4 2,336,747 43.7

Preschool-age 5,830 13.4 2,822 6.5 3,008 6.9 742,171 13.9

School-age 13,382 30.7 6,625 15.2 6,757 15.5 1,594,576 29.8

Non-elderly adult 19,209 44.1 12,012 27.6 7,197 16.5 2,494,323 46.6

18 to 35 years 9,340 21.5 6,221 14.3 3,120 7.2 1,218,561 22.8

36 to 59 years 9,869 22.7 5,791 13.3 4,078 9.4 1,275,762 23.8

Elderly individual 5,118 11.8 3,207 7.4 1,911 4.4 521,941 9.8

Citizenship . . . . . . . . 

U.S.-born citizen 39,765 91.3 22,381 51.4 17,383 39.9 4,884,258 91.2

Naturalized citizen 1,806 4.1 1,155 2.7 651 1.5 218,520 4.1

Refugee 484 1.1 243 0.6 241 0.6 58,948 1.1

Other noncitizen 1,484 3.4 886 2.0 598 1.4 191,284 3.6

Citizen children living with 

noncitizen adultsii 3,837 8.8 1,876 4.3 1,961 4.5 493,421 9.2

Non-elderly individuals 

with disabilities 4,653 10.7 2,412 5.5 2,241 5.1 476,977 8.9

Children with disabilities 674 1.5 215 0.5 459 1.1 62,272 1.2

Non-elderly adults with 

disabilities 3,979 9.1 2,197 5.0 1,782 4.1 414,705 7.7

Adults age 18 to 49 without 

disabilities in childless 

householdsa 3,831 8.8 1,773 4.1 2,057 4.7 623,885 11.7

Race and Hispanic statusee . . . . . . . . 

White, not Hispanic 15,752 36.2 8,801 20.2 6,952 16.0 1,876,499 35.1

African American, not 

Hispanic 11,134 25.6 6,535 15.0 4,599 10.6 1,404,808 26.2

Hispanic, any race 7,510 17.2 4,140 9.5 3,370 7.7 970,802 18.1

Asian, not Hispanic 1,430 3.3 817 1.9 613 1.4 178,800 3.3

Native American, not 

Hispanic 571 1.3 311 0.7 260 0.6 72,875 1.4

Multiple races reported, not 

Hispanic 411 0.9 235 0.5 176 0.4 54,593 1.0

Race unknown 6,731 15.5 3,827 8.8 2,904 6.7 794,634 14.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

62
Table A.24. Distribution of participants by Thrifty Food Plan gender-age groups and household size

 Household size (individuals)

Participant characteristic

Total

(000) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 or 

more

Total 43,539 11,352 8,054 8,267 7,673 4,395 2,246 827 724

Children under age 12 . . . . . . . . . 

1 or younger 2,329 61 494 651 548 315 154 55 51

2 to 3 years 2,313 55 469 622 571 327 162 52 54

4 to 5 years 2,349 50 448 608 579 353 189 66 56

6 to 8 years 3,690 75 582 917 978 607 312 115 105

9 to 11 years 3,396 57 463 826 917 606 294 125 107

Females 24,666 6,080 5,031 4,944 4,235 2,380 1,183 435 377

1 or younger 1,145 31 230 320 276 157 83 23 25

2 to 3 years 1,117 22 241 305 258 168 82 21 18

4 to 5 years 1,117 16 200 316 271 156 99 28 31

6 to 8 years 1,805 44 304 444 465 298 144 56 51

9 to 11 years 1,731 33 240 397 466 318 150 68 60

12 to 13 years 944 15 135 258 248 142 76 41 29

14 to 18 years 1,849 39 349 482 425 279 152 65 58

19 to 50 years 9,669 1,987 2,306 2,215 1,721 833 377 128 103

51 to 70 years 3,913 2,748 812 196 102 28 19 6 2 

71 or older 1,375 1,146 213 12 3 0 1 – 0 

Males 18,873 5,272 3,023 3,323 3,438 2,015 1,063 392 347

1 or younger 1,184 30 264 331 272 158 70 32 26

2 to 3 years 1,196 33 227 318 312 158 80 31 36

4 to 5 years 1,232 35 248 292 308 197 90 38 25

6 to 8 years 1,885 32 278 473 513 309 169 59 54

9 to 11 years 1,665 24 223 429 451 288 144 57 48

12 to 13 years 1,000 15 136 261 259 166 92 36 35

14 to 18 years 1,869 63 321 442 510 262 162 52 57

19 to 50 years 5,177 2,438 563 650 713 446 229 78 60

51 to 70 years 2,987 2,201 501 118 96 30 26 8 7 

71 or older 679 403 263 8 3 0 1 – 0 

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

63
Table A.25. Distribution of household heads, all participants, and non-elderly adult participants by work registration status 

and employment status

 Household heads All participants

Non-elderly adult 

participants

Employment/work registration status

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Total 21,511 100.0 43,539 100.0 19,209 100.0

Work registration status . . . . . . 

Work registrant 4,635 21.5 6,074 13.9 5,854 30.5

Mandatory Employment and Training program 

participant 1,759 8.2 2,210 5.1 2,204 11.5

Voluntary Employment and Training program 

participant 285 1.3 380 0.9 372 1.9

Not Employment and Training program 

participant 2,591 12.0 3,484 8.0 3,278 17.1

Exempt 15,298 71.1 37,330 85.7 13,227 68.9

For disability 5,814 27.0 6,883 15.8 4,292 22.3

For reason other than disability 9,483 44.1 30,447 69.9 8,935 46.5

Nonregistrant, should have registered 89 0.4 126 0.3 125 0.6

Nonparticipating household headff 1,488 6.9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Unknown 2 0.0 8 0.0 4 0.0

Employment and Training program status . . . . . . 

Total participating in Employment and Training 

programjj 1,821 8.5 4,749 10.9 2,227 11.6

Not participating in Employment and Training 

program 18,201 84.6 38,784 89.1 16,979 88.4

Nonparticipating household headff 1,488 6.9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Unknown 1 0.0 6 0.0 3 0.0

Employment status . . . . . . 

Total employed 5,080 23.6 6,309 14.5 6,026 31.4

Self-employed, farming 7 0.0 10 0.0 10 0.0

Self-employed, nonfarming 578 2.7 732 1.7 658 3.4

Migrant farm labor 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Non-migrant farm labor 1 0.0 1 0.0 1 0.0

Active-duty military service 1 0.0 2 0.0 2 0.0

Employed by other 4,492 20.9 5,564 12.8 5,355 27.9

Unemployed and looking for work 3,833 17.8 5,031 11.6 4,850 25.3

Not in labor force and not looking for work 11,107 51.6 32,191 73.9 8,329 43.4

Nonparticipating household headff 1,488 6.9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Unknown 3 0.0 8 0.0 4 0.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

64
65 

Table A.26. Comparison of participating households with key SNAP household characteristics for fiscal years 1989 to 2016

 Percentage of households with:

Time period

Total 

households 

(000)

Zero 

gross 

income

Zero 

net 

incomekk

Minimum 

benefit

Elderly 

individuals Children

Non-elderly 

individuals 

with 

disabilitiesll

AFDCmm/ 

TANF

Earned 

income SSI

Any 

noncitizen

Fiscal year 1989 7,217 7.1 18.3 7.5 19.3 60.4 9.1 41.9 19.6 20.6 9.8

Fiscal year 1990 7,811 7.4 19.3 5.0 18.1 60.3 8.9 42.0 19.0 19.6 10.3

Fiscal year 1991 8,863 8.3 20.5 4.1 16.5 60.4 9.0 40.5 19.8 18.6 11.8

Fiscal year 1992 10,059 9.6 21.9 3.6 15.4 62.2 9.5 39.5 20.2 18.4 10.4

Fiscal year 1993 10,791 9.7 23.7 4.0 15.5 62.1 10.7 39.4 20.6 19.4 11.6

Fiscal year 1994 11,091 10.2 23.8 4.5 15.8 61.1 12.5 38.1 21.4 21.4 10.7

Fiscal year 1995 10,883 9.7 25.0 4.3 16.0 59.7 18.9 38.3 21.4 22.6 10.7

Fiscal year 1996 10,552 10.2 24.9 4.5 16.2 59.5 20.2 36.6 22.5 24.1 10.5

Fiscal year 1997 9,452 9.2 22.7 6.6 17.6 58.3 22.3 34.6 24.2 26.5 8.4

Fiscal year 1998 8,246 8.8 20.8 8.3 18.2 58.3 24.4 31.4 26.3 28.1 4.3

Fiscal year 1999 7,670 8.5 20.6 9.7 20.1 55.7 26.4 27.3 26.8 30.2 6.0

Fiscal year 2000 7,335 8.4 20.1 10.9 21.0 53.9 27.5 25.8 27.2 31.7 6.4

Fiscal year 2001 7,450 9.4 22.2 11.2 20.4 53.6 27.7 23.1 27.0 31.8 5.4

Fiscal year 2002 8,201 10.5 24.3 10.7 18.7 54.1 27.0 20.9 28.0 29.5 5.2

Fiscal year 2003 8,971 12.7 27.7 7.0 17.1 55.1 22.1 17.2 27.5 26.3 5.4

Fiscal year 2004 10,069 13.1 29.7 5.9 17.3 54.3 22.7 16.2 28.5 26.8 6.2

Fiscal year 2005 10,852 13.7 30.0 5.2 17.1 53.7 23.0 14.5 29.1 26.4 6.2

Fiscal year 2006 11,313 14.1 31.0 6.2 17.9 52.0 23.1 13.0 29.5 26.8 6.1

Fiscal year 2007 11,561 14.7 31.4 6.6 17.8 51.0 23.8 12.1 29.6 27.7 5.7

Fiscal year 2008 12,464 16.2 33.6 6.7 18.5 50.6 22.6 10.6 28.9 26.2 5.6

Fiscal year 2009 14,981 17.6 36.0 4.1 16.6 49.9 21.2 9.7 29.4 23.6 5.9

Fiscal year 2010 18,369 19.7 38.3 3.8 15.5 48.7 19.8 8.0 29.9 20.9 5.9

Fiscal year 2011 20,803 20.0 39.4 4.2 16.5 47.1 20.2 7.6 30.5 20.2 5.8

Fiscal year 2012 22,046 20.5 38.4 4.8 17.2 45.3 20.0 7.1 31.3 20.2 5.7

Fiscal year 2013 22,802 21.5 39.4 5.2 17.4 44.8 20.3 6.5 31.2 19.9 5.8

Fiscal year 2014 22,445 21.9 40.6 6.4 19.0 43.6 20.4 6.1 31.3 20.4 6.1

Fiscal year 2015 22,293 22.2 39.6 7.2 19.6 42.7 20.2 5.8 31.8 20.5 6.0

Fiscal year 2016 21,511 20.4 37.2 8.1 21.8 42.9 20.3 5.1 31.9 21.3 6.2

Source: Fiscal Years 1989 to 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control samples.

Note: Fiscal year analysis files were not developed for the years before 1989. The fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2016 estimates differ methodologically from estimates for 

earlier years and, in some cases, from estimates presented in reports prior to 2009. Under the current methodology, the weighting of the SNAP QC data reflects 

adjustments to FNS' Program Operations counts of households to account for receipt of benefits in error or for disaster assistance. In addition, the weighted SNAP QC data 

match adjusted Program Operations counts of households, individuals, and benefit amounts. Beginning with the fiscal year 2009 report, we also incorporated corrected 

SNAP Program Operations data from Missouri for every fiscal year from 2003 to 2008. 
66 

Table A.27. Comparison of average nominal and real values of key SNAP household characteristics for fiscal years 1989 to 2016

 

Gross income 

(dollars)

Net income 

(dollars)kk

Total deduction 

(dollars)nn

SNAP benefit 

(dollars) Gross income as 

a percentage of 

poverty guidelines

(percent)

Household size 

Time period (individuals)

Nominal 

value

Real

valueoo

Nominal

value

Real

valueoo

Nominal

value

Real

valueoo

Nominal 

value

Real

valuepp

Fiscal year 1989 442 852 247 476 216 416 132 255 60 2.6

Fiscal year 1990 453 828 251 459 225 411 150 273 59 2.6

Fiscal year 1991 464 814 253 444 235 412 162 287 58 2.6

Fiscal year 1992 478 814 258 439 250 426 170 299 57 2.6

Fiscal year 1993 490 810 258 427 262 433 170 292 56 2.6

Fiscal year 1994 507 817 268 432 272 439 168 280 57 2.5

Fiscal year 1995 514 806 265 415 283 444 172 278 56 2.5

Fiscal year 1996 528 804 275 419 287 437 174 271 57 2.5

Fiscal year 1997 558 831 299 445 291 433 169 257 58 2.4

Fiscal year 1998 584 856 321 471 294 431 165 246 60 2.4

Fiscal year 1999 603 865 338 485 299 429 162 237 62 2.4

Fiscal year 2000 620 860 355 493 298 413 158 226 63 2.3

Fiscal year 2001 624 842 353 476 311 420 163 226 62 2.3

Fiscal year 2002 633 845 355 474 324 433 173 237 61 2.3

Fiscal year 2003 608 790 317 412 346 449 192 257 57 2.3

Fiscal year 2004 634 802 312 395 382 483 197 254 58 2.3

Fiscal year 2005 644 788 316 387 390 477 209 265 58 2.3

Fiscal year 2006 668 792 323 383 410 486 208 259 59 2.3

Fiscal year 2007 684 788 325 375 430 496 212 253 59 2.2

Fiscal year 2008 693 769 329 365 441 489 222 249 58 2.2

Fiscal year 2009 711 792 329 366 471 525 272 304 58 2.2

Fiscal year 2010 731 801 336 368 491 538 287 320 57 2.2

Fiscal year 2011 744 797 338 362 508 544 281 303 59 2.1

Fiscal year 2012 755 789 343 359 512 535 274 285 60 2.1

Fiscal year 2013 758 780 344 354 522 537 271 279 59 2.1

Fiscal year 2014 759 769 335 339 538 544 253 257 58 2.0

Fiscal year 2015 786 793 354 357 529 534 254 252 59 2.0

Fiscal year 2016 813 813 373 373 539 539 249 249 61 2.0

Sources: CPI-U values: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nominal values: Fiscal Years 1989 to 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality 

Control samples.

Note: The fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2016 estimates differ methodologically from estimates for earlier years and, in some cases, from estimates presented in reports 

prior to 2009. Under the current methodology, the weighting of the SNAP QC data reflects adjustments to FNS' Program Operations counts of households to account for 

receipt of benefits in error or for disaster assistance. In addition, the weighted SNAP QC data match adjusted Program Operations counts of households, individuals, and 

benefit amounts. Beginning with the fiscal year 2009 report, we also incorporated corrected SNAP Program Operations data from Missouri for every fiscal year from 2003 

to 2008.
Table A.28. Comparison of number of SNAP participants by gender and age for fiscal years 1989 to 2016

Time period

Total

participants

(000)

Female 

participants

(000)

Male 

participants

(000)

Children 

(age 0 to 17)

(000)

Non-elderly 

adults 

(age 18 to 59)

(000)

Elderly 

individuals

(age 60 or 

older) 

(000)

Fiscal year 1989 18,956 11,334 7,612 9,447 7,623 1,562

Fiscal year 1990 20,440 12,169 8,265 10,143 8,245 1,574

Fiscal year 1991 22,988 13,679 9,300 11,967 9,397 1,624

Fiscal year 1992 25,775 15,204 10,566 13,368 10,700 1,703

Fiscal year 1993 27,595 16,276 11,316 14,213 11,499 1,870

Fiscal year 1994 28,009 16,453 11,552 14,410 11,615 1,955

Fiscal year 1995 26,955 16,025 10,926 13,883 11,118 1,923

Fiscal year 1996 25,926 15,373 10,549 13,214 10,783 1,895

Fiscal year 1997 23,117 13,880 9,233 11,871 9,385 1,834

Fiscal year 1998 19,969 11,967 7,926 10,546 7,772 1,637

Fiscal year 1999 18,149 10,878 7,226 9,354 7,090 1,699

Fiscal year 2000 17,091 10,198 6,891 8,765 6,623 1,702

Fiscal year 2001 17,297 10,347 6,949 8,841 6,789 1,660

Fiscal year 2002 19,041 11,269 7,769 9,712 7,636 1,687

Fiscal year 2003 20,764 12,211 8,552 10,554 8,516 1,691

Fiscal year 2004 23,279 13,697 9,573 11,635 9,720 1,920

Fiscal year 2005 24,794 14,656 10,132 12,363 10,383 2,046

Fiscal year 2006 25,472 14,957 10,515 12,514 10,732 2,227

Fiscal year 2007 25,775 15,120 10,655 12,605 10,909 2,261

Fiscal year 2008 27,607 16,151 11,456 13,359 11,732 2,515

Fiscal year 2009 32,889 18,854 14,035 15,617 14,543 2,728

Fiscal year 2010 39,759 22,405 17,354 18,516 18,121 3,122

Fiscal year 2011 44,148 24,936 19,212 19,926 20,452 3,770

Fiscal year 2012 46,022 25,945 20,076 20,500 21,367 4,154

Fiscal year 2013 47,098 26,447 20,651 20,889 21,845 4,365

Fiscal year 2014 45,874 25,762 20,112 20,271 20,952 4,651

Fiscal year 2015 45,184 25,637 19,547 19,891 20,494 4,799

Fiscal year 2016 43,539 24,666 18,873 19,212 19,209 5,118

Source: Fiscal Years 1989 to 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control samples.

Notes: The fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2016 estimates differ methodologically from estimates for earlier years and, in 

some cases, from estimates presented in prior reports. Under the current methodology, the weighting of the SNAP QC data 

reflects adjustments to FNS’s Program Operations counts of households to account for receipt of benefits in error or for 

disaster assistance. In addition, the weighted SNAP QC data match adjusted Program Operations counts of households, 

individuals, and benefit amounts. Beginning with the fiscal year 2009 report, we also incorporated corrected SNAP Program 

Operations data from Missouri for every fiscal year from 2003 to 2008. Additionally, beginning with the fiscal year 2014 

report, we used revised versions of the fiscal year 2007 through fiscal year 2012 SNAP QC data files that better reflect 

State BBCE and vehicle rules and newly identify non-elderly individuals with a disability, similar to the SNAP QC files since 

fiscal year 2013. As a result, totals for these years may vary slightly from those printed in the fiscal year reports.

The number of participants by gender and age do not sum to the total number of SNAP participants in certain years 

because some individuals have missing or unknown gender or age and are excluded from those columns.

67 

APPENDIX A FOOTNOTES

APPENDIX A FOOTNOTES

a

 With some exceptions, adult SNAP participants age 18 to 49 without disabilities in childless 

households are subject to work requirements and a time limit. 

b

 A micropolitan area has at least one urban cluster of between 10,000 and 50,000 people and 

includes adjacent territory with a high degree of social and economic integration with the 

core, as measured by commuting ties.

c

 Net income is not used in the benefit determinations of Minnesota Family Investment 

Program (MFIP) households or SSI-Combined Application Project (SSI-CAP) households 

in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits, so 25,234 MFIP households and 626,735 

SSI-CAP households are excluded from this distribution. 

d Because net income is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households 

and 626,735 SSI-CAP households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are 

excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than 

the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

e Because deductions are not used in their benefit determinations, 626,735 SSI-CAP 

households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from this 

category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than the number of total 

SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

f

 Most categorically eligible households have no countable resources because the program 

does not consider resources in determining eligibility. However, five States (Idaho, Maine, 

Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas) used resource limits between $5,000 and $25,000 when 

determining eligibility in all or part of fiscal year 2016.

g

 In tables sorted by income type , the sum of households receiving income from individual 

sources does not equal the total number of households because households may receive 

income from more than one source. 

h Examples of other Government benefits that are considered as income include Black Lung 

benefits, Railroad Retirement payments, and USDA payments to farmers. 

i

 Examples of other unearned income include alimony and dividends and interest payments. 

j Income source (dollars) is the average value of the specified source over households with 

income from that source. 

k The fiscal year 2016 maximum monthly SSI benefit for one person was $733. The 

“Maximum for one-person households” row tabulates the number of households in which at 

least one person received the applicable maximum SSI benefit.

l

 The fiscal year 2016 maximum monthly SSI benefit for two persons was $1,100. This 

“Maximum for two-person households” row tabulates the number of households in which 

the two persons receive a combined SSI benefit of this amount. 

m Percent with the maximum excess shelter expense refers to the percentage of households 

with deduction that receive the maximum.

n Because this deduction is not used in their benefit determinations, 792,974 SSI-CAP 

households are excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer 

households than the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1.

71
o Because this deduction is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households 

and 792,974 SSI-CAP households are excluded from this category. Thus, the average values 

are based on fewer households than the number of total SNAP households shown in 

Appendix Table A.1. 

p Because this deduction is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households 

and 626,735 SSI-CAP households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are 

excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than 

the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

q

 The “Total deduction ($0-154)” row contains MFIP households, which do not receive a 

standard deduction, and households in the Virgin Islands, which receive a standard 

deduction of $137 for one- and two-person households and $139 for three-person 

households. 

r

 Deductions are not used in the benefit determinations of SSI-CAP households in States that 

use standardized SSI-CAP benefits.

s

 Earned income deduction is not used in the benefit determinations of SSI-CAP households. 

t

 Dependent care deduction and medical expense deduction are not used in the benefit 

determinations of MFIP households or SSI-CAP households.

u

 Child support payment deduction and excess shelter expense deduction are not used in the 

benefit determinations of MFIP households or SSI-CAP households in States that use 

standardized SSI-CAP benefits. 

v Some households are excluded from the distributions of deduction amounts because the 

deductions are not used in the households’ benefit determination. As a result, the 

distribution percentages do not sum to 100 percent. 

w The excess shelter expense deduction cap for households without elderly or disabled 

members is $504

x

 Households without elderly or disabled members are subject to a cap on their excess shelter

expense deduction. 

y The minimum SNAP benefit, applicable to one- and two-person households, is equal to 8 

percent of the maximum benefit for single-person households. See Appendix Table C.6 for 

the fiscal year 2016 minimum benefit values. 

z

 The number of households receiving less than 25 percent of the maximum benefit does not 

include households receiving the minimum benefit. 

aa The sum of individual household composition categories does not match the table total 

because a household may have more than one of the characteristics in the table.

bb Individuals with missing age were assigned child or adult status based on their relationship 

to the household head. 

cc "Other households" refers to households not containing children, elderly individuals, or nonelderly individuals with disabilities.

dd Some States allow child support expenses to be subtracted before gross income is 

calculated. As a result, it is possible to have countable income but no gross income.

ee Codes to allow reporting of multiple races were implemented beginning in April 2007. We 

have grouped the codes to form general race and ethnicity categories. “White, not Hispanic” 

includes “white, not Hispanic or Latino;” “African American, not Hispanic” includes “black 

72
or African American, not Hispanic or Latino” and “(black or African American) and white;” 

“Hispanic, any race” includes “Hispanic” and “(Hispanic or Latino) with any race or race 

combination”; “Asian, not Hispanic” includes “Asian,” “Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander,” and “Asian and white;” “Native American, not Hispanic” includes “American 

Indian or Alaska Native,” “(American Indian or Alaska Native) and white,” and “(American 

Indian or Alaska Native) and (black or African American);” “Multiple races reported, not 

Hispanic” includes individuals who reported more than one race and who do not fit into any 

previously mentioned value; and “Race unknown” includes “Racial/ethnic data not 

available” and “Racial/ethnic data not recorded.” Reporting of race and ethnicity is now 

voluntary and was missing for 16 percent of participants in fiscal year 2016. As a result, 

fiscal year 2016 race and ethnicity distributions are not comparable to distributions for years 

prior to fiscal year 2007. 

ff Some household heads who are not participating with the household are ineligible for SNAP 

or are in separate SNAP units not included in the SNAP QC sample. This category also 

includes some households with no adult listed on the file. 

gg Percentage of total participants.

hh Prorated benefits equal the benefits paid to households multiplied by the ratio of participants 

with selected characteristic to total household size.

ii Noncitizens may be inside or outside the SNAP unit. 

jj Employment and training may be provided through SNAP or other programs. 

kk Beginning in 2004, net income is not calculated for MFIP households or SSI-CAP 

households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits.

ll The substantial changes in 1995 and 2003 in the percentage of households with a nonelderly individual with disabilities are in part a result of changes to the definition of a 

household with an individual with a disability. Prior to 1995, these households were defined 

as those with SSI and no members over age 59. In 1995, that definition changed to 

households with at least one member under age 65 who received SSI, or at least one 

member age 18 to 61 who received Social Security income, veterans’ benefits, or other 

Government benefits as a result of a disability. Due to changes in the SNAP QC data in 

2003, the definition changed again, to households with individuals under the age of 60 with 

SSI income, a medical expense deduction and without an elderly person, or with a nonelderly adult who worked fewer than 30 hours a week and received Social Security income, 

veterans’ benefits, or workers’ compensation. In 2015, the definition of individuals with 

disabilities was expanded to also include non-elderly adults in single-person SNAP 

households who received Social Security income. In 2016, the definition was further 

modified to identify nonparticipating elderly members with SNAP case affiliation codes 8, 

9, 11, or 13 as disabled when the unit receives a medical deduction and has no participating 

elderly members.

mm AFDC refers to Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

nn Some of the changes in average total deductions and average net income between 2003 and 

2004 may be attributable to two items in the SNAP QC data file development process. First, 

we revised the way certain deductions are calculated to correct for inconsistencies and data 

entry errors. Second, given that deductions are not used in their benefit determination, SSICAP participants in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from the 

average total deduction calculation beginning in 2004. 

73
oo Real values are in constant fiscal year 2016 dollars adjusted by changes in the Consumer 

Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for all items.

pp Real values are in constant fiscal year 2016 dollars adjusted by changes in the CPI-U for 

food at home. 

– No sample data in this category

n.a. Not applicable 

74
APPENDIX B 

DETAILED TABLES OF SNAP HOUSEHOLDS BY STATE

Note: All Appendix B table footnotes appear at the conclusion of this appendix, under Appendix B footnotes.

Table B.1. Distribution of participating households, individuals, and benefits by State

 SNAP households Participants in households Monthly SNAP benefits

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Dollars 

(000) Percent

Totala 21,511 100.0 43,539 100.0 5,353,011 100.0

Alabama 397 1.8 844 1.9 101,759 1.9

Alaska 35 0.2 82 0.2 14,529 0.3

Arizona 417 1.9 933 2.1 112,306 2.1

Arkansas 186 0.9 417 1.0 45,876 0.9

California 2,060 9.6 4,261 9.8 578,010 10.8

Colorado 224 1.0 472 1.1 59,619 1.1

Connecticut 244 1.1 429 1.0 55,052 1.0

Delaware 69 0.3 142 0.3 16,980 0.3

District of Columbia 75 0.3 133 0.3 16,664 0.3

Florida 1,871 8.7 3,455 7.9 431,613 8.1

Georgia 797 3.7 1,722 4.0 214,425 4.0

Guam 15 0.1 46 0.1 8,562 0.2

Hawaii 89 0.4 175 0.4 39,328 0.7

Idaho 79 0.4 182 0.4 20,740 0.4

Illinois 987 4.6 1,894 4.3 243,350 4.5

Indiana 319 1.5 719 1.7 84,534 1.6

Iowa 175 0.8 372 0.9 39,021 0.7

Kansas 113 0.5 250 0.6 27,881 0.5

Kentucky 309 1.4 651 1.5 78,260 1.5

Louisiana 405 1.9 886 2.0 111,374 2.1

Maine 97 0.5 185 0.4 20,176 0.4

Maryland 386 1.8 738 1.7 86,820 1.6

Massachusetts 444 2.1 762 1.7 94,212 1.8

Michigan 769 3.6 1,445 3.3 171,450 3.2

Minnesota 227 1.1 467 1.1 48,571 0.9

Mississippi 268 1.2 579 1.3 66,109 1.2

Missouri 375 1.7 803 1.8 96,714 1.8

Montana 54 0.3 115 0.3 13,415 0.3

Nebraska 78 0.4 174 0.4 19,575 0.4

Nevada 219 1.0 429 1.0 49,558 0.9

New Hampshire 47 0.2 95 0.2 9,724 0.2

New Jersey 439 2.0 878 2.0 100,865 1.9

New Mexico 210 1.0 457 1.0 53,698 1.0

New York 1,625 7.6 2,948 6.8 400,074 7.5

North Carolina 750 3.5 1,540 3.5 181,945 3.4

North Dakota 25 0.1 53 0.1 6,302 0.1

Ohio 779 3.6 1,565 3.6 192,930 3.6

Oklahoma 272 1.3 606 1.4 71,970 1.3

Oregon 417 1.9 726 1.7 84,639 1.6

Pennsylvania 944 4.4 1,846 4.2 222,440 4.2

Rhode Island 99 0.5 167 0.4 21,733 0.4

South Carolina 357 1.7 747 1.7 90,552 1.7

South Dakota 42 0.2 95 0.2 11,907 0.2

Tennessee 543 2.5 1,100 2.5 136,354 2.5

Texas 1,576 7.3 3,732 8.6 436,941 8.2

Utah 84 0.4 215 0.5 24,528 0.5

Vermont 43 0.2 80 0.2 9,606 0.2

Virgin Islands 13 0.1 28 0.1 4,603 0.1

Virginia 374 1.7 795 1.8 91,319 1.7

Washington 544 2.5 1,003 2.3 117,986 2.2

West Virginia 175 0.8 349 0.8 38,763 0.7

Wisconsin 357 1.7 721 1.7 73,718 1.4

Wyoming 14 0.1 33 0.1 3,931 0.1

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

77 
Table B.2. Average values of selected characteristics by State

 Average values

State

Gross 

countable 

income as a 

percentage of 

poverty 

guidelines 

(percent)

Gross 

countable 

income

(dollars)

Net 

countable 

income

(dollars)b

Total 

deductions 

(dollars)c

SNAP 

benefit 

(dollars)

Household 

size 

(individuals)

Certification 

period

(months)

Total 60.8 814 374 539 249 2.0 13.4

Alabama 55.5 756 381 460 256 2.1 15.3

Alaska 50.6 940 494 657 420 2.4 7.4

Arizona 53.1 783 398 473 269 2.2 10.0

Arkansas 55.1 789 466 383 246 2.2 17.9

California 49.3 707 283 548 281 2.1 12.7

Colorado 58.7 802 334 566 266 2.1 11.9

Connecticut 73.1 904 319 714 226 1.8 16.9

Delaware 66.7 892 408 580 247 2.1 15.0

District of Columbia 52.9 656 348 481 222 1.8 15.2

Florida 60.5 779 333 529 231 1.8 11.4

Georgia 55.5 758 373 466 269 2.2 7.9

Guam 63.9 1,075 580 591 556 3.0 12.0

Hawaii 60.3 951 533 469 444 2.0 11.6

Idaho 65.9 932 442 573 264 2.3 9.3

Illinois 53.9 707 313 474 246 1.9 11.0

Indiana 57.8 808 409 479 265 2.3 11.8

Iowa 67.8 945 518 506 223 2.1 7.5

Kansas 63.8 883 450 513 247 2.2 13.9

Kentucky 50.6 692 375 395 254 2.1 9.6

Louisiana 50.5 709 335 445 275 2.2 17.3

Maine 80.3 1,030 456 641 208 1.9 12.1

Maryland 66.8 865 408 538 225 1.9 10.4

Massachusetts 79.5 970 336 748 212 1.7 19.1

Michigan 66.1 841 395 546 223 1.9 15.9

Minnesota 68.1 921 545 481 214 2.1 13.3

Mississippi 54.6 753 410 412 247 2.2 20.4

Missouri 54.9 748 371 465 258 2.1 16.8

Montana 64.7 875 408 563 248 2.1 15.4

Nebraska 63.2 894 444 548 252 2.2 11.8

Nevada 60.5 810 441 448 226 2.0 7.8

New Hampshire 78.9 1,062 503 629 206 2.0 7.4

New Jersey 70.2 922 418 579 230 2.0 15.6

New Mexico 57.5 799 402 475 256 2.2 14.6

New York 74.9 931 321 767 246 1.8 20.7

North Carolina 61.5 825 426 486 242 2.1 8.2

North Dakota 70.5 942 380 649 254 2.1 8.1

Ohio 60.8 798 360 537 248 2.0 11.9

Oklahoma 54.6 759 397 448 265 2.2 15.9

Oregon 68.3 855 398 541 203 1.7 12.2

Pennsylvania 72.5 941 390 678 236 2.0 16.6

Rhode Island 73.2 888 288 776 220 1.7 17.0

South Carolina 55.1 737 361 450 253 2.1 9.5

South Dakota 59.1 830 347 608 285 2.3 13.8

Tennessee 49.0 654 343 387 251 2.0 11.9

Texas 54.6 813 428 532 277 2.4 12.1

Utah 57.3 892 460 514 290 2.5 7.8

Vermont 89.2 1,132 356 907 224 1.9 16.1

Virgin Islands 54.0 747 423 379 352 2.1 11.9

Virginia 59.7 810 419 449 244 2.1 14.1

Washington 65.6 867 381 585 217 1.8 15.5

West Virginia 57.7 766 453 401 222 2.0 16.4

Wisconsin 76.6 1,014 542 565 206 2.0 11.8

Wyoming 57.7 830 417 508 277 2.4 9.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

78 
Table B.3. Distribution of participating households by poverty status and by State

 Gross countable income as a percentage of the poverty guidelines

 

Total 

households Zero gross income

1 percent to 

50 percent

51 percent to 

100 percent

101 percent or 

more

State

Number

(000)

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 21,511 4,393 20.4 4,259 19.8 8,999 41.8 3,860 17.9

Alabama 397 83 20.8 84 21.1 177 44.6 53 13.4

Alaska 35 10 29.0 7 21.5 12 35.2 5 14.3

Arizona 417 120 28.8 78 18.7 152 36.5 67 16.0

Arkansas 186 39 20.8 38 20.2 89 48.0 21 11.1

California 2,060 515 25.0 719 34.9 535 26.0 291 14.1

Colorado 224 42 18.8 44 19.9 104 46.3 34 15.0

Connecticut 244 41 16.8 40 16.5 91 37.3 72 29.4

Delaware 69 11 16.0 15 22.1 26 38.3 16 23.6

District of Columbia 75 22 29.3 16 21.1 26 34.8 11 14.8

Florida 1,871 455 24.3 291 15.6 769 41.1 356 19.0

Georgia 797 199 25.0 154 19.3 329 41.2 116 14.5

Guam 15 2 14.0 4 28.1 5 32.1 4 25.9

Hawaii 89 11 12.9 21 24.2 43 48.5 13 14.4

Idaho 79 10 12.6 14 17.5 41 52.8 13 17.1

Illinois 987 269 27.2 169 17.1 410 41.6 139 14.1

Indiana 319 61 19.1 60 18.9 150 47.2 47 14.8

Iowa 175 30 16.8 34 19.2 66 37.8 46 26.2

Kansas 113 18 15.8 19 17.1 55 48.5 21 18.6

Kentucky 309 78 25.3 57 18.6 144 46.8 29 9.4

Louisiana 405 95 23.5 91 22.5 184 45.5 34 8.5

Maine 97 10 10.0 10 10.1 49 50.4 29 29.5

Maryland 386 71 18.3 77 20.0 147 38.0 91 23.6

Massachusetts 444 51 11.5 62 13.9 208 46.8 123 27.8

Michigan 769 166 21.5 105 13.6 338 43.9 161 21.0

Minnesota 227 15 6.4 67 29.5 94 41.4 51 22.7

Mississippi 268 61 22.9 44 16.4 137 51.4 25 9.4

Missouri 375 85 22.7 70 18.7 168 44.8 52 13.8

Montana 54 10 18.3 9 16.5 24 43.9 11 21.3

Nebraska 78 12 15.2 15 19.2 37 47.8 14 17.8

Nevada 219 54 24.6 47 21.3 71 32.3 48 21.9

New Hampshire 47 5 10.7 5 10.7 23 49.4 14 29.2

New Jersey 439 46 10.5 90 20.6 205 46.7 97 22.2

New Mexico 210 40 19.0 46 22.0 94 44.6 30 14.4

New York 1,625 135 8.3 298 18.3 865 53.2 327 20.1

North Carolina 750 168 22.4 139 18.5 296 39.4 148 19.8

North Dakota 25 3 12.5 5 18.4 11 44.7 6 24.3

Ohio 779 152 19.5 130 16.7 366 47.0 131 16.8

Oklahoma 272 52 19.1 59 21.5 132 48.6 29 10.8

Oregon 417 92 22.2 57 13.8 157 37.8 109 26.2

Pennsylvania 944 143 15.1 141 14.9 410 43.4 251 26.6

Rhode Island 99 16 16.6 11 11.4 47 47.6 24 24.5

South Carolina 357 72 20.1 79 22.0 159 44.4 48 13.5

South Dakota 42 9 22.0 8 17.9 17 40.5 8 19.5

Tennessee 543 159 29.3 99 18.2 227 41.8 58 10.6

Texas 1,576 365 23.1 353 22.4 620 39.4 237 15.1

Utah 84 18 20.9 18 21.3 35 40.9 14 16.9

Vermont 43 3 6.2 5 12.1 19 44.4 16 37.3

Virgin Islands 13 2 17.8 5 36.9 3 26.6 2 18.7

Virginia 374 55 14.8 84 22.4 184 49.2 51 13.6

Washington 544 108 19.9 92 16.9 222 40.9 121 22.3

West Virginia 175 39 22.3 30 17.2 79 45.2 27 15.3

Wisconsin 357 63 17.7 42 11.8 138 38.6 114 31.9

Wyoming 14 3 20.2 3 18.2 7 47.4 2 14.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

79 
Table B.4. Distribution of participating households by shelter-related characteristics and by State

 

Households with 

shelter deduction

Households at the

shelter cap

Average 

monthly 

shelter 

expense

(dollars)

Average monthly 

shelter expense 

among households 

with expense

(dollars)

Average 

shelter 

deduction 

(dollars)d State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 14,688 68.3 3,325 15.5 602 762 398

Alabama 264 66.4 34 8.7 461 592 305

Alaska 23 67.2 3 9.7 617 742 438

Arizona 247 59.2 53 12.7 469 677 326

Arkansas 96 51.6 7 3.8 369 507 250

California 1,530 74.3 522 25.3 599 777 399

Colorado 164 73.4 45 20.3 661 804 428

Connecticut 200 82.2 73 29.8 922 1,096 573

Delaware 53 76.9 12 18.0 675 809 405

District of Columbia 61 80.7 3 4.7 502 543 336

Florida 1,281 68.5 262 14.0 582 770 406

Georgia 480 60.2 78 9.8 473 676 346

Guam 5 34.8 0 1.9 307 454 245

Hawaii 42 46.9 3 3.0 392 556 290

Idaho 62 78.5 11 14.4 623 716 355

Illinois 629 63.7 107 10.8 497 713 365

Indiana 203 63.7 33 10.2 499 667 350

Iowa 119 68.0 22 12.7 561 684 327

Kansas 84 74.7 12 10.2 555 645 315

Kentucky 183 59.2 15 5.0 404 552 289

Louisiana 254 62.9 32 7.8 465 659 323

Maine 80 82.4 14 14.4 821 921 477

Maryland 251 65.0 66 17.1 606 783 373

Massachusetts 380 85.7 98 22.0 926 1,034 570

Michigan 506 65.8 120 15.6 610 789 436

Minnesota 140 61.4 22 9.6 549 733 363

Mississippi 135 50.4 13 4.8 391 528 278

Missouri 247 65.7 31 8.1 456 596 309

Montana 39 72.1 10 18.7 632 754 413

Nebraska 60 76.8 12 14.9 626 701 362

Nevada 122 55.9 20 9.0 465 700 329

New Hampshire 37 78.0 8 17.8 811 893 461

New Jersey 335 76.2 89 20.3 726 834 437

New Mexico 135 64.5 25 12.1 489 620 320

New York 1,180 72.6 394 24.3 977 997 529

North Carolina 467 62.2 91 12.1 514 690 341

North Dakota 20 80.7 6 24.2 730 808 425

Ohio 542 69.5 134 17.2 610 771 435

Oklahoma 187 69.0 24 8.9 480 601 307

Oregon 298 71.6 63 15.2 640 828 408

Pennsylvania 795 84.1 232 24.6 815 896 479

Rhode Island 96 96.9 36 36.0 939 947 544

South Carolina 192 53.7 24 6.6 417 575 317

South Dakota 27 63.4 9 22.4 652 857 465

Tennessee 283 52.1 36 6.6 380 613 307

Texas 1,011 64.1 195 12.4 503 657 338

Utah 55 65.4 14 16.2 575 726 352

Vermont 42 98.8 15 33.9 1,191 1,196 631

Virgin Islands 5 41.1 0 3.6 247 372 185

Virginia 244 65.1 33 8.9 476 585 300

Washington 431 79.3 89 16.3 681 822 404

West Virginia 109 62.3 10 5.7 445 565 285

Wisconsin 248 69.5 63 17.6 662 793 392

Wyoming 10 70.3 2 11.5 527 637 326

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

80 
Table B.5. Distribution of participating households by household composition and by State

 Households with:

 Children

Elderly 

individuals

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Single adults with 

children

Adults age 18 to 

49 without 

disabilities in 

childless 

householdse

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 9,221 42.9 4,681 21.8 4,367 20.3 5,387 25.0 3,529 16.4

Alabama 183 46.2 74 18.6 105 26.6 124 31.3 68 17.0

Alaska 15 44.2 7 21.1 5 14.6 7 20.4 7 20.6

Arizona 194 46.5 69 16.6 54 13.1 101 24.1 91 21.7

Arkansas 88 47.1 32 17.4 48 25.6 52 28.0 29 15.7

California 1,064 51.7 253 12.3 36 1.8 442 21.5 521 25.3

Colorado 103 45.9 53 23.5 38 16.9 58 25.9 31 13.8

Connecticut 79 32.2 67 27.4 54 22.3 51 20.8 41 16.8

Delaware 31 45.4 15 22.0 13 19.3 22 31.3 9 13.8

District of Columbia 24 32.5 15 19.9 17 23.2 17 22.8 18 23.5

Florida 704 37.6 550 29.4 319 17.1 345 18.5 267 14.3

Georgia 388 48.7 145 18.2 169 21.2 256 32.1 134 16.8

Guam 10 64.8 3 16.6 1 6.4 3 18.3 2 13.1

Hawaii 31 35.0 25 28.1 17 19.5 16 18.5 13 14.5

Idaho 40 50.6 16 19.8 21 26.3 20 25.5 8 10.6

Illinois 390 39.5 184 18.7 197 19.9 235 23.8 214 21.7

Indiana 151 47.2 53 16.8 84 26.5 94 29.4 41 12.8

Iowa 77 43.9 29 16.8 39 22.1 46 26.5 32 18.0

Kansas 54 47.6 22 19.2 33 29.2 33 29.4 10 8.7

Kentucky 136 44.0 56 18.1 83 26.8 81 26.1 57 18.6

Louisiana 183 45.2 80 19.9 96 23.7 145 35.9 76 18.9

Maine 34 34.9 27 27.4 34 34.9 17 17.6 8 8.0

Maryland 155 40.2 84 21.8 72 18.8 111 28.8 66 17.1

Massachusetts 141 31.8 140 31.4 131 29.5 94 21.2 45 10.2

Michigan 269 34.9 157 20.4 192 25.0 153 19.9 175 22.7

Minnesota 95 41.6 48 21.3 54 24.0 49 21.6 30 13.0

Mississippi 126 47.1 48 17.8 67 25.2 81 30.4 39 14.4

Missouri 167 44.6 61 16.1 109 29.1 120 32.1 53 14.1

Montana 24 43.6 10 19.1 14 25.2 14 25.1 7 13.4

Nebraska 37 47.9 14 17.4 19 24.8 23 29.1 9 11.1

Nevada 84 38.1 46 20.9 28 12.9 45 20.6 50 22.8

New Hampshire 20 42.4 10 20.6 18 38.2 12 26.0 3 6.4

New Jersey 200 45.6 123 27.9 90 20.6 112 25.5 39 8.8

New Mexico 99 47.4 40 19.0 37 17.8 58 27.6 35 16.5

New York 563 34.7 565 34.8 405 24.9 320 19.7 178 11.0

North Carolina 347 46.2 150 20.0 130 17.3 224 29.9 131 17.4

North Dakota 11 44.1 6 22.5 6 23.8 7 27.6 3 10.2

Ohio 304 39.0 150 19.2 230 29.5 205 26.4 115 14.8

Oklahoma 126 46.5 53 19.4 69 25.2 77 28.5 39 14.2

Oregon 117 28.0 102 24.4 89 21.3 57 13.7 103 24.8

Pennsylvania 355 37.6 244 25.8 253 26.8 259 27.4 147 15.5

Rhode Island 30 30.3 25 25.6 28 28.0 19 19.1 19 19.2

South Carolina 166 46.4 75 21.0 81 22.5 117 32.6 43 12.1

South Dakota 20 46.7 8 18.5 9 22.0 12 29.6 6 15.4

Tennessee 221 40.8 103 19.0 114 21.0 140 25.9 111 20.5

Texas 914 58.0 321 20.4 267 17.0 522 33.1 128 8.1

Utah 46 54.3 14 16.3 18 21.2 24 28.7 9 11.1

Vermont 15 33.9 13 30.2 13 30.3 9 21.1 4 9.6

Virgin Islands 6 46.8 3 22.8 1 4.4 4 31.9 3 22.1

Virginia 182 48.7 81 21.8 95 25.3 119 31.8 38 10.1

Washington 178 32.8 104 19.0 134 24.7 93 17.1 126 23.1

West Virginia 69 39.5 35 20.3 49 27.9 40 22.8 36 20.5

Wisconsin 149 41.8 73 20.4 76 21.3 95 26.6 61 17.1

Wyoming 7 52.0 2 14.8 3 23.8 5 35.5 1 9.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

81 
Table B.6. Distribution of participating households by selected countable income sources and by State

 Households with countable:

 TANFf GA SSI Social Security Earned income

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 1,094 5.1 687 3.2 4,584 21.3 5,715 26.6 6,866 31.9

Alabama 11 2.9 – – 98 24.6 120 30.2 111 27.9

Alaska 3 8.4 10 29.0 6 16.0 7 20.8 9 26.2

Arizona 8 2.0 – – 57 13.7 80 19.2 152 36.3

Arkansas 2 1.1 1 0.7 45 24.3 54 28.8 57 30.4

California 414 20.1 105 5.1 – – 208 10.1 816 39.6

Colorado 0 0.1 39 17.2 42 18.9 59 26.3 76 34.1

Connecticut 12 5.0 16 6.6 51 21.0 84 34.3 70 28.7

Delaware 4 5.5 4 5.8 11 16.1 19 27.2 23 33.4

District of Columbia 12 16.4 1 1.6 17 22.8 17 23.2 13 16.7

Florida 59 3.2 5 0.3 407 21.7 536 28.7 517 27.6

Georgia 13 1.7 – – 170 21.3 204 25.6 260 32.6

Guam 1 7.7 1 3.8 – – 3 20.0 8 50.5

Hawaii 4 4.9 5 5.8 21 23.5 26 29.2 32 36.2

Idaho 3 4.2 12 14.9 20 25.3 23 29.7 31 39.8

Illinois 37 3.7 20 2.0 209 21.1 216 21.8 301 30.4

Indiana 7 2.3 0 0.1 77 24.0 81 25.4 108 33.9

Iowa 9 5.1 0 0.2 32 18.4 46 26.1 72 41.3

Kansas 3 2.9 – – 27 24.1 36 32.1 39 34.1

Kentucky 15 4.8 1 0.2 84 27.3 82 26.6 74 23.9

Louisiana 2 0.5 3 0.7 114 28.1 108 26.7 110 27.2

Maine 3 3.0 28 29.1 27 28.0 46 46.9 26 26.3

Maryland 22 5.7 21 5.4 84 21.7 99 25.7 113 29.3

Massachusetts 27 6.1 22 5.0 148 33.3 165 37.2 96 21.7

Michigan 16 2.1 2 0.3 192 25.0 229 29.8 251 32.7

Minnesota 24 10.7 19 8.5 59 25.8 61 26.8 82 35.9

Mississippi 5 1.8 – – 77 28.9 73 27.4 75 28.2

Missouri 19 5.1 – – 86 23.0 114 30.4 94 25.1

Montana 4 7.8 0 0.5 12 22.7 16 30.3 19 34.6

Nebraska 5 6.8 5 6.2 17 21.6 23 29.1 27 35.3

Nevada 7 3.2 – – 31 14.1 49 22.3 80 36.7

New Hampshire 1 3.1 7 14.9 13 26.8 20 43.2 14 29.3

New Jersey 26 6.0 24 5.4 114 26.1 130 29.6 119 27.0

New Mexico 13 6.2 3 1.4 40 19.2 50 23.8 79 37.7

New York 53 3.3 188 11.6 575 35.4 572 35.2 419 25.8

North Carolina 6 0.8 4 0.6 123 16.4 205 27.3 284 37.8

North Dakota 1 3.2 1 3.1 4 17.8 10 38.5 9 34.7

Ohio 28 3.6 12 1.5 215 27.5 249 32.0 229 29.3

Oklahoma 7 2.6 70 25.9 70 25.9 76 27.8 82 30.2

Oregon 23 5.5 0 0.1 83 19.9 132 31.8 126 30.3

Pennsylvania 67 7.1 2 0.2 251 26.5 325 34.4 302 32.0

Rhode Island 4 4.3 0 0.4 25 25.5 35 35.1 27 27.8

South Carolina 11 3.1 0 0.1 76 21.3 110 30.9 105 29.4

South Dakota 2 4.6 0 0.3 8 19.8 12 28.2 15 35.1

Tennessee 20 3.8 1 0.1 108 19.9 159 29.4 144 26.5

Texas 20 1.3 – – 296 18.8 286 18.2 641 40.7

Utah 4 4.4 1 1.1 19 22.0 19 22.3 31 37.0

Vermont 4 8.2 1 2.3 10 24.1 20 45.7 13 30.1

Virgin Islands 0 1.7 1 6.2 – – 3 22.5 5 41.6

Virginia 19 5.1 3 0.7 95 25.4 106 28.3 123 32.9

Washington 19 3.4 42 7.8 118 21.7 148 27.2 168 30.9

West Virginia 1 0.4 4 2.0 48 27.7 55 31.3 41 23.5

Wisconsin 11 3.0 3 0.8 68 19.0 107 30.1 142 39.9

Wyoming 0 0.4 0 0.6 3 18.2 4 28.0 5 35.9

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

82 
Table B.7. Average values of selected countable income sources by State

Average countable values (dollars)g

State TANFhGA SSI Social Security Earned income

Total 413 231 581 845 1,150

Alabama 187 – 575 800 1,084

Alaska 664 331 534 915 1,576

Arizona 232 – 585 843 1,261

Arkansas 195 156 555 793 1,189

California 546 272 – 844 1,044

Colorado 364 273 531 792 1,099

Connecticut 470 212 570 953 1,152

Delaware 286 89 543 953 1,257

District of Columbia 263 335 619 826 1,313

Florida 266 291 571 853 1,250

Georgia 284 – 572 834 1,085

Guam 184 148 – 865 1,569

Hawaii 588 357 566 823 1,290

Idaho 126 54 571 808 1,160

Illinois 313 67 583 864 1,047

Indiana 175 100 583 805 1,132

Iowa 328 343 532 905 1,174

Kansas 278 – 551 860 1,184

Kentucky 229 586 565 801 1,049

Louisiana 249 293 561 722 1,075

Maine 417 11 501 912 1,387

Maryland 546 170 586 865 1,297

Massachusetts 438 340 622 902 1,429

Michigan 307 195 575 882 1,135

Minnesotah 1 192 620 801 1,221

Mississippi 138 – 552 698 1,180

Missouri 254 – 557 832 1,153

Montana 506 238 502 783 1,233

Nebraska 375 93 540 810 1,239

Nevada 355 – 611 920 1,188

New Hampshire 498 118 538 880 1,432

New Jersey 342 175 573 889 1,271

New Mexico 365 245 534 766 1,146

New York 572 361 604 831 1,137

North Carolina 217 207 550 874 1,149

North Dakota 296 343 448 796 1,244

Ohio 345 164 560 812 1,044

Oklahoma 229 39 593 753 1,041

Oregon 464 22 533 958 1,192

Pennsylvania 314 352 634 908 1,166

Rhode Island 423 154 600 904 1,190

South Carolina 236 165 557 806 983

South Dakota 407 384 544 821 1,147

Tennessee 170 1,510 509 806 986

Texas 207 – 611 769 1,169

Utah 440 269 547 771 1,368

Vermont 518 124 604 1,003 1,351

Virgin Islands 220 186 – 760 1,206

Virginia 258 267 581 860 1,039

Washington 429 112 577 848 1,357

West Virginia 349 297 592 847 1,097

Wisconsin 472 400 635 932 1,291

Wyoming 368 368 537 787 1,146

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

83 
Table B.8. Distribution of participating households by earnings-related characteristics and by State

 Households with earned income

Average earned income deduction 

(dollars)

State

Number 

(000) Percent

Average 

earned income 

(dollars)

All 

householdsi

Households with 

deduction

Totala 6,866 31.9 1,150 76 230

Alabama 111 27.9 1,084 60 216

Alaska 9 26.2 1,576 83 315

Arizona 152 36.3 1,261 92 253

Arkansas 57 30.4 1,189 72 238

California 816 39.6 1,044 83 208

Colorado 76 34.1 1,099 75 220

Connecticut 70 28.7 1,152 66 230

Delaware 23 33.4 1,257 84 251

District of Columbia 13 16.7 1,313 44 262

Florida 517 27.6 1,250 71 250

Georgia 260 32.6 1,085 71 217

Guam 8 50.5 1,569 158 313

Hawaii 32 36.2 1,290 93 259

Idaho 31 39.8 1,160 92 232

Illinois 301 30.4 1,047 64 209

Indiana 108 33.9 1,132 77 227

Iowa 72 41.3 1,174 97 235

Kansas 39 34.1 1,184 81 236

Kentucky 74 23.9 1,049 50 209

Louisiana 110 27.2 1,075 59 216

Maine 26 26.3 1,387 73 278

Maryland 113 29.3 1,297 79 261

Massachusetts 96 21.7 1,429 67 285

Michigan 251 32.7 1,135 75 227

Minnesota 82 35.9 1,221 93 303

Mississippi 75 28.2 1,180 74 236

Missouri 94 25.1 1,153 58 230

Montana 19 34.6 1,233 85 246

Nebraska 27 35.3 1,239 87 247

Nevada 80 36.7 1,188 87 237

New Hampshire 14 29.3 1,432 84 286

New Jersey 119 27.0 1,271 69 254

New Mexico 79 37.7 1,146 87 229

New York 419 25.8 1,137 75 228

North Carolina 284 37.8 1,149 89 229

North Dakota 9 34.7 1,244 86 248

Ohio 229 29.3 1,044 61 209

Oklahoma 82 30.2 1,041 63 208

Oregon 126 30.3 1,192 72 238

Pennsylvania 302 32.0 1,166 77 233

Rhode Island 27 27.8 1,190 66 238

South Carolina 105 29.4 983 63 196

South Dakota 15 35.1 1,147 86 234

Tennessee 144 26.5 986 52 197

Texas 641 40.7 1,169 103 233

Utah 31 37.0 1,368 101 274

Vermont 13 30.1 1,351 81 270

Virgin Islands 5 41.6 1,206 100 241

Virginia 123 32.9 1,039 69 207

Washington 168 30.9 1,357 98 272

West Virginia 41 23.5 1,097 51 220

Wisconsin 142 39.9 1,291 103 258

Wyoming 5 35.9 1,146 82 229

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

84 
Table B.9. Distribution of entrant households with and without expedited service by State

 

Total 

entrant 

households

Entrant households 

eligible for and receiving 

expedited service

Entrant households eligible 

for but not receiving 

expedited service

Entrant households not 

eligible for expedited 

service

State

Number

(000)

Number

(000) Percent

Number 

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 882 441 50.0 46 5.2 395 44.8

Alabama 14 5 39.1 1 8.8 7 52.1

Alaska 2 1 48.7 0 6.0 1 45.4

Arizona 28 13 46.4 0 1.7 14 51.9

Arkansas 11 4 34.0 1 8.0 6 57.9

California 67 40 60.4 5 8.0 21 31.6

Colorado 15 8 53.9 0 2.9 7 43.2

Connecticut 9 6 60.0 – – 4 40.0

Delaware 2 1 61.9 0 4.3 1 33.9

District of Columbia 4 2 64.4 0 7.6 1 28.0

Florida 75 40 52.7 – – 36 47.3

Georgia 27 10 38.3 1 5.2 15 56.5

Guam 0 0 45.6 – – 0 54.4

Hawaii 3 1 36.1 0 7.9 2 56.0

Idaho 6 2 29.5 – – 4 70.5

Illinois 29 13 44.1 2 8.5 14 47.4

Indiana 12 5 42.4 1 5.0 6 52.6

Iowa 9 2 24.7 1 12.3 6 63.0

Kansas 5 2 45.7 0 4.6 2 49.8

Kentucky 15 8 51.3 – – 7 48.7

Louisiana 18 6 35.9 2 9.1 10 55.1

Maine 3 1 26.6 0 4.1 2 69.3

Maryland 19 9 48.4 1 6.9 9 44.7

Massachusetts 22 11 50.9 2 7.6 9 41.5

Michigan 30 20 65.2 1 4.7 9 30.0

Minnesota 8 3 41.7 1 11.8 4 46.6

Mississippi 7 3 52.1 – – 3 47.9

Missouri 18 11 61.1 2 10.2 5 28.7

Montana 2 1 44.3 0 8.1 1 47.7

Nebraska 5 2 46.7 0 3.6 2 49.7

Nevada 15 9 57.2 0 1.7 6 41.1

New Hampshire 2 1 39.2 0 9.8 1 51.0

New Jersey 12 7 57.1 1 8.2 4 34.6

New Mexico 9 4 48.2 – – 5 51.8

New York 64 36 56.8 8 11.8 20 31.4

North Carolina 25 10 39.7 1 3.2 14 57.1

North Dakota 1 1 53.8 – – 1 46.2

Ohio 26 15 56.8 1 3.0 11 40.2

Oklahoma 11 7 57.5 0 2.3 5 40.2

Oregon 11 5 44.9 – – 6 55.1

Pennsylvania 35 22 63.4 2 5.8 11 30.8

Rhode Island 2 1 57.0 0 7.6 1 35.4

South Carolina 10 3 30.7 1 6.3 7 63.0

South Dakota 3 1 41.5 0 2.1 1 56.4

Tennessee 21 13 61.8 – – 8 38.2

Texas 109 40 36.6 6 5.4 63 57.9

Utah 4 2 49.9 – – 2 50.1

Vermont 1 1 66.6 0 3.3 0 30.1

Virgin Islands 0 0 56.9 – – 0 43.1

Virginia 12 6 50.6 0 4.0 5 45.4

Washington 20 11 55.7 1 3.9 8 40.4

West Virginia 5 2 51.4 1 12.3 2 36.3

Wisconsin 16 11 64.4 – – 6 35.6

Wyoming 1 1 47.3 – – 1 52.7

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

85 
Table B.10. Distribution of participating households by race and Hispanic status of household head and by State

 Race and Hispanic status of household headj

 

White, not 

Hispanic

African American, 

not Hispanic

Hispanic, any 

race

Other, not 

Hispanick Missing/unknownl

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 8,375 38.9 5,349 24.9 2,549 11.8 1,007 4.7 4,231 19.7

Alabama 160 40.3 216 54.4 5 1.1 3 0.8 13 3.4

Alaska 13 37.5 2 5.3 0 0.4 17 48.7 3 8.2

Arizona 193 46.2 32 7.6 105 25.1 51 12.1 37 8.9

Arkansas 111 59.4 62 33.2 3 1.8 2 1.0 9 4.6

California 502 24.4 225 10.9 746 36.2 147 7.1 440 21.4

Colorado 42 18.8 10 4.5 21 9.4 8 3.6 143 63.7

Connecticut 106 43.3 55 22.4 57 23.3 7 2.8 20 8.2

Delaware 7 10.4 5 7.6 0 0.5 0 0.1 56 81.4

District of Columbia 1 1.3 67 89.3 2 3.0 1 1.6 4 4.8

Florida 642 34.3 497 26.6 529 28.3 26 1.4 176 9.4

Georgia 249 31.3 469 58.8 16 2.0 14 1.7 49 6.2

Guam 0 1.5 0 0.2 – – 12 77.0 3 21.2

Hawaii 20 22.7 2 1.8 2 2.4 47 53.4 17 19.7

Idaho 63 80.7 1 1.5 6 7.0 3 3.2 6 7.5

Illinois 354 35.9 237 24.0 40 4.1 18 1.8 338 34.2

Indiana 204 63.9 87 27.2 10 3.3 5 1.7 13 4.0

Iowa 92 52.4 19 11.0 5 2.9 4 2.1 56 31.7

Kansas 62 55.2 16 13.9 3 2.9 3 2.6 29 25.4

Kentucky 251 81.3 41 13.2 3 1.1 5 1.6 9 2.9

Louisiana 114 28.1 216 53.3 2 0.5 8 2.0 65 16.1

Maine 90 92.2 2 2.3 0 0.4 2 2.3 3 2.8

Maryland 138 35.8 209 54.2 9 2.4 16 4.1 14 3.6

Massachusetts 231 52.0 70 15.7 81 18.2 21 4.8 41 9.3

Michigan 341 44.3 250 32.5 12 1.6 16 2.1 150 19.5

Minnesota 104 45.8 46 20.1 6 2.8 19 8.5 52 22.7

Mississippi 67 25.0 150 55.9 1 0.5 1 0.4 49 18.3

Missouri 227 60.6 104 27.7 2 0.5 5 1.4 37 9.9

Montana 36 66.9 0 0.8 0 0.6 9 16.9 8 14.9

Nebraska 42 53.7 13 16.8 6 7.3 4 5.1 13 17.1

Nevada 93 42.5 50 22.8 42 19.1 18 8.2 16 7.4

New Hampshire 35 74.9 1 1.3 1 2.4 1 1.6 9 19.8

New Jersey 132 30.0 126 28.7 97 22.1 30 6.9 54 12.2

New Mexico 48 22.9 4 1.9 80 38.3 25 12.0 52 24.8

New York 551 33.9 454 28.0 340 20.9 166 10.2 114 7.0

North Carolina 330 43.9 344 45.8 12 1.6 23 3.0 42 5.6

North Dakota 17 69.1 2 7.9 0 1.3 5 19.1 1 2.6

Ohio 503 64.6 247 31.6 – – 15 2.0 14 1.8

Oklahoma 148 54.5 40 14.8 14 5.0 27 9.9 43 15.8

Oregon 325 78.0 18 4.3 6 1.3 26 6.4 42 10.0

Pennsylvania 552 58.4 291 30.8 2 0.2 90 9.6 10 1.0

Rhode Island 55 55.6 13 13.2 21 20.8 2 2.4 8 8.0

South Carolina 134 37.6 203 56.8 3 0.9 2 0.7 14 4.1

South Dakota 20 47.4 1 3.2 1 1.4 13 31.6 7 16.5

Tennessee 92 16.9 39 7.1 1 0.1 4 0.7 408 75.2

Texas 144 9.1 127 8.1 225 14.3 28 1.8 1,051 66.7

Utah 59 70.4 3 3.6 2 2.5 4 4.3 16 19.1

Vermont 27 62.0 1 1.5 0 0.5 1 2.8 14 33.2

Virgin Islands 0 3.8 9 71.6 2 13.6 0 1.1 1 9.9

Virginia 174 46.5 159 42.5 8 2.0 12 3.1 22 5.9

Washington 97 17.9 16 2.9 15 2.7 22 4.1 394 72.5

West Virginia 165 94.3 7 3.9 – – 0 0.1 3 1.7

Wisconsin 201 56.1 95 26.6 3 0.8 16 4.4 43 12.1

Wyoming 11 76.8 0 1.6 1 6.4 2 11.2 1 4.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

86 
Table B.11. Distribution of participating households by use of standard utility allowance and by State

 Standard utility allowance (SUA)-usage and entitlementm

 

Total 

households

Households with 

heating/cooling SUA

Households with 

another SUA

Households 

with no SUA

State

Number

(000)

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 21,511 13,243 61.6 1,784 8.3 5,832 27.1

Alabama 397 268 67.5 17 4.2 112 28.3

Alaska 35 14 41.6 13 37.0 7 21.5

Arizona 417 223 53.4 45 10.8 149 35.7

Arkansas 186 103 55.4 7 3.8 76 40.8

California 2,060 1,423 69.1 36 1.8 601 29.2

Colorado 224 136 60.7 38 17.0 50 22.2

Connecticut 244 194 79.6 5 1.8 45 18.5

Delaware 69 54 77.8 1 0.9 15 21.3

District of Columbia 75 68 90.1 0 0.6 7 9.2

Florida 1,871 1,078 57.6 147 7.8 646 34.5

Georgia 797 464 58.2 32 4.0 301 37.8

Guam 15 – – 9 57.3 7 42.7

Hawaii 89 0 0.3 43 49.1 45 50.6

Idaho 79 57 72.6 9 11.0 13 16.4

Illinois 987 492 49.9 79 8.0 416 42.1

Indiana 319 191 59.9 10 3.2 118 36.9

Iowa 175 112 63.6 17 9.7 47 26.7

Kansas 113 79 69.9 10 9.0 24 21.1

Kentucky 309 187 60.6 19 6.0 102 33.0

Louisiana 405 246 60.7 17 4.1 135 33.4

Maine 97 65 66.9 17 17.5 15 15.6

Maryland 386 183 47.5 61 15.7 128 33.2

Massachusetts 444 329 74.2 55 12.5 59 13.3

Michigan 769 424 55.2 115 15.0 222 28.8

Minnesota 227 112 49.1 34 15.0 56 24.7

Mississippi 268 154 57.6 3 1.1 83 31.1

Missouri 375 239 63.7 19 5.2 117 31.2

Montana 54 35 65.6 3 6.0 15 28.4

Nebraska 78 54 68.9 7 9.2 17 22.0

Nevada 219 106 48.5 10 4.5 103 47.0

New Hampshire 47 25 53.8 11 24.0 10 22.2

New Jersey 439 256 58.2 46 10.6 137 31.2

New Mexico 210 125 59.7 25 12.0 58 27.4

New York 1,625 949 58.4 293 18.1 24 1.5

North Carolina 750 465 61.9 33 4.4 235 31.3

North Dakota 25 18 72.9 2 8.5 5 18.7

Ohio 779 524 67.2 30 3.9 225 28.9

Oklahoma 272 179 65.7 26 9.6 67 24.6

Oregon 417 285 68.5 22 5.3 109 26.2

Pennsylvania 944 786 83.3 17 1.8 108 11.4

Rhode Island 99 97 98.3 0 0.1 2 1.7

South Carolina 357 200 55.9 1 0.2 128 35.8

South Dakota 42 24 57.1 2 3.8 13 31.8

Tennessee 543 276 50.9 18 3.3 249 45.8

Texas 1,576 971 61.6 160 10.1 321 20.4

Utah 84 46 53.9 11 13.1 28 33.0

Vermont 43 42 98.8 0 0.8 0 0.4

Virgin Islands 13 – – 0 3.2 13 96.8

Virginia 374 198 53.0 49 13.2 125 33.3

Washington 544 347 63.8 93 17.1 104 19.1

West Virginia 175 121 69.6 6 3.3 47 27.1

Wisconsin 357 208 58.2 59 16.5 90 25.3

Wyoming 14 9 61.7 1 6.2 5 32.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

87 
Table B.12. Distribution of participating categorically eligible households by public assistance status and by State

 Categorically eligible households

 

Total 

households Total households

Pure public assistance 

householdsn

Other categorically 

eligible householdso

State

Number

(000)

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 21,511 19,532 90.8 4,600 21.4 14,933 69.4

Alabama 397 397 100.0 70 17.6 327 82.4

Alaska 35 10 29.2 10 27.6 1 1.6

Arizona 417 417 100.0 47 11.2 371 88.8

Arkansas 186 34 18.4 29 15.5 5 2.9

California 2,060 2,060 100.0 465 22.6 1,595 77.4

Colorado 224 224 100.0 52 23.4 171 76.6

Connecticut 244 243 99.8 60 24.5 183 75.2

Delaware 69 69 100.0 14 19.7 55 80.3

District of Columbia 75 75 100.0 23 30.3 52 69.7

Florida 1,871 1,871 100.0 365 19.5 1,506 80.5

Georgia 797 797 100.0 121 15.1 676 84.9

Guam 15 15 100.0 2 10.1 14 89.9

Hawaii 89 89 100.0 25 28.1 64 71.9

Idaho 79 79 100.0 15 19.0 64 81.0

Illinois 987 987 100.0 181 18.4 806 81.6

Indiana 319 58 18.1 57 17.8 1 0.4

Iowa 175 175 100.0 29 16.4 147 83.6

Kansas 113 23 20.4 22 19.2 1 1.2

Kentucky 309 309 100.0 63 20.5 245 79.5

Louisiana 405 84 20.9 77 19.1 7 1.8

Maine 97 97 99.9 26 26.9 71 73.0

Maryland 386 386 100.0 100 26.0 286 74.0

Massachusetts 444 443 99.9 163 36.7 280 63.2

Michigan 769 769 100.0 157 20.4 612 79.6

Minnesota 227 227 100.0 92 40.7 135 59.3

Mississippi 268 268 100.0 60 22.4 208 77.6

Missouri 375 98 26.1 75 20.0 23 6.1

Montana 54 54 100.0 12 23.1 42 76.9

Nebraska 78 78 100.0 18 23.2 60 76.8

Nevada 219 219 100.0 28 12.8 191 87.2

New Hampshire 47 31 65.5 11 23.7 20 41.8

New Jersey 439 439 100.0 130 29.7 309 70.3

New Mexico 210 210 100.0 42 20.1 168 79.9

New York 1,625 1,623 99.9 597 36.8 1,026 63.1

North Carolina 750 750 100.0 89 11.9 661 88.1

North Dakota 25 25 100.0 5 18.9 20 81.1

Ohio 779 779 100.0 190 24.3 590 75.7

Oklahoma 272 272 100.0 64 23.4 208 76.6

Oregon 417 417 100.0 83 19.8 334 80.2

Pennsylvania 944 944 100.0 211 22.3 734 77.7

Rhode Island 99 99 100.0 24 23.9 75 76.1

South Carolina 357 357 100.0 58 16.3 299 83.7

South Dakota 42 11 25.2 8 18.8 3 6.4

Tennessee 543 101 18.6 95 17.6 6 1.0

Texas 1,576 1,576 100.0 201 12.7 1,375 87.3

Utah 84 22 26.5 17 20.5 5 6.0

Vermont 43 43 100.0 12 27.5 31 72.5

Virgin Islands 13 13 100.0 1 6.9 12 93.1

Virginia 374 87 23.3 81 21.7 6 1.6

Washington 544 544 100.0 131 24.0 413 76.0

West Virginia 175 175 100.0 33 19.0 141 81.0

Wisconsin 357 357 100.0 59 16.5 298 83.5

Wyoming 14 2 14.6 2 14.2 0 0.5

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

88 
Table B.13. Distribution of participating households by poverty status and by State, and effect of SNAP benefits on the 

poverty status of SNAP households

 Distribution of households in relation to poverty guidelinesp

 Based on cash only

Based on cash and SNAP 

benefits

Difference in percentage 

points

State

50 

percent 

or less

51 to 

100 

percent

101 

percent 

or more

50 

percent 

or less

51 to 

100 

percent

101 

percent 

or more

50 

percent 

or less

51 to 

100 

percent

101 

percent 

or more

Totala 40 41.8 17.9 28.2 43.7 28.1 -12.0 1.8 10.2

Alabama 42 44.6 13.4 29.7 49.5 20.8 -12.2 4.8 7.4

Alaska 51 35.2 14.3 34.7 41.8 23.5 -15.8 6.7 9.1

Arizona 48 36.5 16.0 38.9 37.4 23.8 -8.7 0.9 7.8

Arkansas 41 48.0 11.1 28.6 53.3 18.0 -12.3 5.4 7.0

California 60 26.0 14.1 36.7 40.7 22.6 -23.2 14.7 8.5

Colorado 39 46.3 15.0 27.3 47.8 24.9 -11.4 1.5 9.9

Connecticut 33 37.3 29.4 24.3 34.5 41.2 -9.0 -2.8 11.8

Delaware 38 38.3 23.6 26.8 38.7 34.5 -11.3 0.4 10.9

District of Columbia 50 34.8 14.8 39.0 42.7 18.3 -11.4 7.9 3.5

Florida 40 41.1 19.0 30.3 42.0 27.8 -9.6 0.9 8.7

Georgia 44 41.2 14.5 33.1 45.0 21.9 -11.2 3.8 7.4

Guam 42 32.1 25.9 20.6 31.9 47.6 -21.5 -0.2 21.7

Hawaii 37 48.5 14.4 15.7 53.9 30.3 -21.4 5.4 16.0

Idaho 30 52.8 17.1 21.0 50.2 28.7 -9.1 -2.5 11.7

Illinois 44 41.6 14.1 33.7 44.6 21.7 -10.7 3.1 7.6

Indiana 38 47.2 14.8 28.0 49.4 22.6 -10.0 2.2 7.8

Iowa 36 37.8 26.2 24.9 42.2 32.9 -11.1 4.4 6.7

Kansas 33 48.5 18.6 22.3 50.9 26.7 -10.6 2.4 8.2

Kentucky 44 46.8 9.4 33.7 51.6 14.7 -10.2 4.9 5.3

Louisiana 46 45.5 8.5 33.2 49.8 17.0 -12.8 4.3 8.5

Maine 20 50.4 29.5 13.3 43.8 42.9 -6.8 -6.6 13.4

Maryland 38 38.0 23.6 27.6 40.3 32.1 -10.7 2.3 8.4

Massachusetts 25 46.8 27.8 15.3 36.7 48.0 -10.2 -10.1 20.3

Michigan 35 43.9 21.0 27.2 42.2 30.6 -7.9 -1.7 9.6

Minnesota 36 41.4 22.7 28.6 39.7 31.7 -7.4 -1.7 9.1

Mississippi 39 51.4 9.4 29.5 54.1 16.4 -9.8 2.7 7.1

Missouri 41 44.8 13.8 30.5 47.5 22.0 -10.9 2.7 8.2

Montana 35 43.9 21.3 23.0 47.2 29.7 -11.8 3.4 8.5

Nebraska 34 47.8 17.8 22.6 48.8 28.6 -11.8 1.0 10.9

Nevada 46 32.3 21.9 36.0 36.1 27.9 -9.8 3.9 6.0

New Hampshire 21 49.4 29.2 13.7 45.9 40.4 -7.7 -3.4 11.1

New Jersey 31 46.7 22.2 18.5 50.9 30.6 -12.6 4.2 8.4

New Mexico 41 44.6 14.4 29.5 47.7 22.8 -11.5 3.1 8.4

New York 27 53.2 20.1 13.4 37.7 48.9 -13.3 -15.5 28.8

North Carolina 41 39.4 19.8 30.2 42.8 27.0 -10.6 3.4 7.2

North Dakota 31 44.7 24.3 22.7 39.7 37.6 -8.3 -5.0 13.3

Ohio 36 47.0 16.8 26.7 47.7 25.6 -9.4 0.7 8.7

Oklahoma 41 48.6 10.8 30.4 51.8 17.8 -10.2 3.2 7.0

Oregon 36 37.8 26.2 28.1 36.8 35.1 -7.9 -0.9 8.8

Pennsylvania 30 43.4 26.6 19.6 43.4 37.0 -10.4 0.0 10.4

Rhode Island 28 47.6 24.5 20.7 40.0 39.3 -7.3 -7.6 14.9

South Carolina 42 44.4 13.5 29.8 50.8 19.4 -12.3 6.4 5.9

South Dakota 40 40.5 19.5 30.4 38.6 31.1 -9.6 -1.9 11.6

Tennessee 48 41.8 10.6 37.9 45.1 17.0 -9.6 3.3 6.4

Texas 46 39.4 15.1 31.7 45.6 22.7 -13.9 6.2 7.7

Utah 42 40.9 16.9 27.7 47.3 25.0 -14.5 6.5 8.1

Vermont 18 44.4 37.3 9.6 30.2 60.1 -8.7 -14.1 22.8

Virgin Islands 55 26.6 18.7 37.3 37.4 25.3 -17.4 10.8 6.6

Virginia 37 49.2 13.6 23.4 55.3 21.3 -13.8 6.1 7.7

Washington 37 40.9 22.3 28.0 41.3 30.7 -8.8 0.4 8.4

West Virginia 39 45.2 15.3 29.4 49.9 20.7 -10.1 4.7 5.3

Wisconsin 29 38.6 31.9 22.9 33.4 43.7 -6.6 -5.1 11.7

Wyoming 38 47.4 14.2 26.3 50.3 23.4 -12.1 2.9 9.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

89 
Table B.14. Distribution of participants by age and by State

 

Preschool-age 

children

School-age 

children

Total 

children

Non-elderly 

adults

Elderly 

adults

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 5,830 13.4 13,382 30.7 19,212 44.1 19,209 44.1 5,118 11.8

Alabama 107 12.7 267 31.6 374 44.3 390 46.3 80 9.5

Alaska 10 12.3 25 30.3 35 42.5 39 47.5 8 9.9

Arizona 136 14.6 304 32.6 441 47.3 414 44.4 78 8.3

Arkansas 63 15.2 130 31.2 193 46.4 189 45.4 34 8.2

California 625 14.7 1,550 36.4 2,175 51.0 1,817 42.6 269 6.3

Colorado 67 14.2 160 33.9 227 48.1 189 40.1 56 11.8

Connecticut 44 10.4 108 25.2 153 35.6 202 47.1 74 17.3

Delaware 19 13.3 45 31.3 63 44.6 62 44.0 16 11.4

District of Columbia 17 12.8 31 23.7 48 36.5 69 51.8 16 11.7

Florida 465 13.5 935 27.1 1,400 40.5 1,451 42.0 604 17.5

Georgia 251 14.6 560 32.5 811 47.1 757 44.0 154 8.9

Guam 8 17.0 18 38.4 26 55.3 18 38.2 3 6.5

Hawaii 26 14.9 47 26.7 73 41.5 74 42.2 29 16.3

Idaho 29 16.0 60 33.0 89 49.1 76 41.5 17 9.4

Illinois 236 12.5 547 28.9 783 41.3 910 48.0 201 10.6

Indiana 105 14.7 234 32.5 339 47.2 322 44.8 57 8.0

Iowa 56 15.0 107 28.7 163 43.7 178 47.9 31 8.4

Kansas 40 16.1 80 31.9 120 48.0 106 42.4 24 9.6

Kentucky 89 13.6 177 27.2 266 40.8 324 49.8 61 9.3

Louisiana 129 14.5 286 32.2 414 46.7 387 43.7 85 9.6

Maine 19 10.4 46 25.1 66 35.4 90 48.5 30 16.0

Maryland 85 11.5 224 30.3 309 41.9 341 46.2 88 12.0

Massachusetts 66 8.7 198 25.9 264 34.6 344 45.2 154 20.2

Michigan 169 11.7 359 24.8 528 36.6 746 51.6 171 11.8

Minnesota 67 14.3 149 32.0 216 46.2 199 42.7 52 11.0

Mississippi 73 12.6 187 32.3 260 44.9 268 46.3 51 8.8

Missouri 108 13.4 266 33.1 374 46.6 366 45.6 63 7.9

Montana 14 12.2 33 29.0 47 41.2 57 49.6 11 9.2

Nebraska 26 15.1 58 33.6 85 48.6 75 43.3 14 8.1

Nevada 55 12.9 131 30.5 186 43.3 194 45.2 49 11.5

New Hampshire 13 13.6 25 26.6 38 40.2 47 48.7 11 11.1

New Jersey 112 12.8 297 33.9 410 46.7 331 37.7 138 15.7

New Mexico 63 13.9 143 31.2 206 45.1 207 45.3 44 9.6

New York 316 10.7 798 27.1 1,114 37.8 1,204 40.8 630 21.4

North Carolina 214 13.9 459 29.8 672 43.7 703 45.7 164 10.7

North Dakota 8 16.0 15 28.2 23 44.2 24 44.5 6 11.2

Ohio 189 12.1 470 30.0 659 42.1 744 47.5 162 10.4

Oklahoma 92 15.2 186 30.7 278 45.9 272 45.0 55 9.1

Oregon 66 9.0 164 22.6 230 31.6 382 52.6 114 15.8

Pennsylvania 238 12.9 480 26.0 719 38.9 851 46.1 276 15.0

Rhode Island 18 11.0 41 24.7 59 35.7 80 48.2 27 16.1

South Carolina 99 13.2 244 32.6 343 45.9 326 43.6 79 10.6

South Dakota 15 16.2 31 32.2 46 48.4 41 43.0 8 8.6

Tennessee 133 12.1 334 30.4 467 42.5 526 47.8 107 9.7

Texas 617 16.5 1,435 38.5 2,052 55.0 1,319 35.3 361 9.7

Utah 35 16.5 78 36.1 113 52.6 86 40.2 16 7.2

Vermont 8 10.3 20 25.7 29 36.0 37 46.7 14 17.3

Virgin Islands 4 15.1 8 30.1 13 45.2 12 42.0 4 12.8

Virginia 109 13.8 261 32.9 371 46.6 335 42.2 89 11.2

Washington 131 13.1 256 25.5 387 38.6 500 49.9 116 11.5

West Virginia 40 11.4 87 24.9 127 36.4 183 52.5 39 11.2

Wisconsin 96 13.3 217 30.1 312 43.3 331 45.9 78 10.8

Wyoming 5 15.4 12 35.3 17 50.7 14 42.7 2 6.5

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

90 
Table B.15. Distribution of participants by disability status and by State

 

Children with 

disabilities

Non-elderly 

adults with 

disabilities

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Adults age 18 to 

49 without 

disabilities in 

childless 

householdse

Adults age 18 to 

49 without 

disabilities not 

subject to work 

requirements or a 

time limit

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 674 1.5 3,979 9.1 4,653 10.7 3,831 8.8 9,009 20.7

Alabama 19 2.2 97 11.5 116 13.7 78 9.3 180 21.3

Alaska 0 0.5 5 5.8 5 6.3 8 9.8 20 24.1

Arizona 11 1.2 46 5.0 57 6.1 100 10.7 209 22.5

Arkansas 11 2.7 40 9.7 52 12.4 32 7.8 95 22.9

California – – 36 0.9 36 0.9 570 13.4 871 20.5

Colorado 3 0.7 35 7.5 39 8.2 33 6.9 96 20.4

Connecticut 7 1.6 51 11.8 58 13.4 44 10.2 77 18.0

Delaware 3 2.0 11 7.7 14 9.6 10 6.9 33 23.1

District of Columbia 3 2.6 15 11.3 18 13.9 20 14.7 24 18.0

Florida 70 2.0 277 8.0 347 10.0 280 8.1 651 18.8

Georgia 29 1.7 152 8.8 180 10.5 148 8.6 380 22.0

Guam 0 0.2 1 2.1 1 2.4 3 5.9 12 24.9

Hawaii 1 0.8 16 9.3 18 10.0 13 7.6 33 18.8

Idaho 4 2.0 19 10.3 22 12.3 9 4.8 43 23.7

Illinois 30 1.6 176 9.3 206 10.9 228 12.0 384 20.3

Indiana 12 1.6 77 10.7 89 12.3 45 6.2 164 22.9

Iowa 5 1.2 37 9.8 41 11.1 35 9.4 88 23.8

Kansas 4 1.8 30 12.0 34 13.8 11 4.4 55 21.9

Kentucky 12 1.8 78 12.0 90 13.8 64 9.8 150 23.0

Louisiana 20 2.2 84 9.5 104 11.7 81 9.2 183 20.6

Maine 2 1.1 33 18.1 36 19.2 8 4.4 41 22.0

Maryland 14 1.8 64 8.6 77 10.5 72 9.8 152 20.7

Massachusetts 11 1.4 129 17.0 140 18.4 47 6.2 137 18.0

Michigan 15 1.0 189 13.1 204 14.1 191 13.2 299 20.7

Minnesota 7 1.5 49 10.6 56 12.1 31 6.6 97 20.7

Mississippi 12 2.1 60 10.4 73 12.6 45 7.7 134 23.2

Missouri 14 1.8 104 12.9 118 14.7 56 7.0 169 21.0

Montana 1 0.9 13 11.3 14 12.2 8 6.8 30 26.4

Nebraska 2 1.0 18 10.3 20 11.3 9 5.2 41 23.7

Nevada 6 1.4 24 5.6 30 7.0 53 12.4 87 20.2

New Hampshire 1 1.2 18 19.1 19 20.3 3 3.3 21 22.5

New Jersey 13 1.5 82 9.4 95 10.9 41 4.7 170 19.3

New Mexico 5 1.0 34 7.5 39 8.5 38 8.3 111 24.3

New York 57 1.9 366 12.4 423 14.4 200 6.8 508 17.2

North Carolina 17 1.1 121 7.9 138 9.0 147 9.5 345 22.4

North Dakota 0 0.4 6 11.0 6 11.3 3 5.5 12 23.6

Ohio 29 1.9 212 13.5 241 15.4 121 7.7 333 21.3

Oklahoma 11 1.8 63 10.4 74 12.2 43 7.1 138 22.9

Oregon 5 0.7 85 11.6 90 12.4 115 15.9 128 17.6

Pennsylvania 49 2.7 233 12.6 282 15.3 163 8.8 373 20.2

Rhode Island 4 2.1 26 15.3 29 17.5 20 11.8 28 16.9

South Carolina 15 2.0 70 9.4 85 11.4 47 6.3 161 21.6

South Dakota 1 0.8 9 9.1 9 9.9 7 7.1 22 23.2

Tennessee 11 1.0 111 10.1 122 11.1 119 10.9 226 20.6

Texas 80 2.1 213 5.7 292 7.8 129 3.5 818 21.9

Utah 3 1.2 16 7.6 19 8.8 10 4.7 52 24.4

Vermont 1 1.4 13 15.8 14 17.2 4 5.4 16 20.1

Virgin Islands – – 1 2.1 1 2.1 3 11.6 6 21.1

Virginia 17 2.1 85 10.6 101 12.7 42 5.2 177 22.2

Washington 8 0.8 130 12.9 138 13.7 135 13.4 183 18.2

West Virginia 5 1.5 48 13.8 53 15.3 41 11.7 78 22.4

Wisconsin 14 1.9 68 9.5 82 11.4 65 9.0 158 21.9

Wyoming 0 0.6 3 10.1 4 10.6 1 4.4 8 24.4

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

91 
92 

Table B.16. Distribution of participants by citizenship status and by State

 All participants U.S.-born citizens Naturalized citizens Refugees Other noncitizens

Citizen children 

living with a 

noncitizenq

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 43,539 100.0 39,765 100.0 1,806 100.0 484 100.0 1,484 100.0 3,837 100.0

Alabama 844 1.9 840 2.1 2 0.1 – – 1 0.1 30 0.8

Alaska 82 0.2 78 0.2 2 0.1 0 0.1 2 0.1 3 0.1

Arizona 933 2.1 857 2.2 26 1.4 8 1.7 41 2.8 130 3.4

Arkansas 417 1.0 414 1.0 0 0.0 0 0.1 2 0.2 20 0.5

California 4,261 9.8 3,618 9.1 282 15.6 91 18.8 270 18.2 1,034 27.0

Colorado 472 1.1 432 1.1 13 0.7 10 2.0 17 1.1 56 1.5

Connecticut 429 1.0 390 1.0 25 1.4 1 0.1 12 0.8 28 0.7

Delaware 142 0.3 139 0.3 2 0.1 – – 1 0.1 7 0.2

District of Columbia 133 0.3 127 0.3 1 0.1 0 0.1 4 0.3 6 0.1

Florida 3,455 7.9 2,716 6.8 375 20.8 65 13.4 299 20.1 276 7.2

Georgia 1,722 4.0 1,664 4.2 27 1.5 7 1.5 23 1.6 124 3.2

Guam 46 0.1 43 0.1 2 0.1 – – 2 0.1 11 0.3

Hawaii 175 0.4 157 0.4 12 0.7 0 0.0 6 0.4 13 0.3

Idaho 182 0.4 172 0.4 3 0.1 4 0.8 4 0.3 10 0.2

Illinois 1,894 4.3 1,784 4.5 56 3.1 11 2.3 43 2.9 166 4.3

Indiana 719 1.7 699 1.8 6 0.3 9 1.8 6 0.4 32 0.8

Iowa 372 0.9 353 0.9 5 0.3 9 1.9 4 0.3 16 0.4

Kansas 250 0.6 244 0.6 2 0.1 0 0.0 4 0.3 15 0.4

Kentucky 651 1.5 638 1.6 4 0.2 6 1.3 3 0.2 17 0.4

Louisiana 886 2.0 879 2.2 2 0.1 – – 5 0.4 10 0.3

Maine 185 0.4 178 0.4 4 0.2 2 0.4 2 0.1 2 0.0

Maryland 738 1.7 702 1.8 16 0.9 8 1.7 12 0.8 41 1.1

Massachusetts 762 1.7 645 1.6 67 3.7 5 1.0 45 3.0 31 0.8

Michigan 1,445 3.3 1,362 3.4 30 1.6 24 5.0 30 2.0 33 0.9

Minnesota 467 1.1 398 1.0 31 1.7 28 5.9 10 0.6 31 0.8

Mississippi 579 1.3 578 1.5 – – – – 1 0.1 5 0.1

Missouri 803 1.8 791 2.0 5 0.3 4 0.8 3 0.2 23 0.6

Montana 115 0.3 115 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Nebraska 174 0.4 161 0.4 3 0.2 6 1.3 4 0.3 12 0.3

Nevada 429 1.0 389 1.0 12 0.7 5 1.0 23 1.6 67 1.7

New Hampshire 95 0.2 90 0.2 2 0.1 2 0.5 2 0.1 1 0.0

New Jersey 878 2.0 709 1.8 102 5.7 9 1.9 58 3.9 135 3.5

New Mexico 457 1.0 438 1.1 3 0.2 – – 15 1.0 30 0.8

New York 2,948 6.8 2,274 5.7 408 22.6 49 10.2 217 14.6 245 6.4

North Carolina 1,540 3.5 1,496 3.8 27 1.5 3 0.7 13 0.9 111 2.9

North Dakota 53 0.1 46 0.1 1 0.1 5 1.0 0 0.0 2 0.0

Ohio 1,565 3.6 1,532 3.9 21 1.2 9 1.9 3 0.2 22 0.6

Oklahoma 606 1.4 596 1.5 2 0.1 3 0.6 5 0.3 31 0.8

Oregon 726 1.7 694 1.7 14 0.8 2 0.5 16 1.0 47 1.2

Pennsylvania 1,846 4.2 1,811 4.6 2 0.1 12 2.5 21 1.4 22 0.6
Table B.16 (continued)

93 

 All participants U.S.-born citizens Naturalized citizens Refugees Other noncitizens

Citizen children 

living with a 

noncitizenq

State

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Rhode Island 167 0.4 146 0.4 11 0.6 1 0.2 9 0.6 12 0.3

South Carolina 747 1.7 740 1.9 2 0.1 0 0.1 6 0.4 35 0.9

South Dakota 95 0.2 92 0.2 0 0.0 2 0.4 1 0.1 2 0.1

Tennessee 1,100 2.5 1,088 2.7 2 0.1 3 0.7 7 0.5 43 1.1

Texas 3,732 8.6 3,434 8.6 89 5.0 40 8.3 168 11.3 636 16.6

Utah 215 0.5 200 0.5 5 0.3 7 1.5 3 0.2 18 0.5

Vermont 80 0.2 76 0.2 1 0.1 2 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0

Virgin Islands 28 0.1 22 0.1 3 0.2 1 0.1 2 0.1 2 0.1

Virginia 795 1.8 744 1.9 30 1.7 8 1.6 12 0.8 39 1.0

Washington 1,003 2.3 894 2.2 57 3.1 16 3.3 36 2.4 101 2.6

West Virginia 349 0.8 349 0.9 – – 0 0.0 – – 0 0.0

Wisconsin 721 1.7 699 1.8 6 0.3 3 0.6 13 0.9 52 1.4

Wyoming 33 0.1 33 0.1 0 0.0 – – 0 0.0 1 0.0

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.
Table B.17. Distribution of noncitizen participants by age and by State

 

Total 

noncitizen 

participants Children Non-elderly adults Elderly adults

State

Number

(000)

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Number

(000) Percent

Totala 1,968 433 22.0 1,028 52.2 507 25.8

Alabama 1 – – 1 100.0 – – 

Alaska 2 1 29.4 1 42.0 1 28.6

Arizona 50 6 11.9 29 58.3 15 29.8

Arkansas 3 0 19.4 2 69.3 0 11.3

California 360 89 24.8 216 59.9 55 15.3

Colorado 26 6 23.2 14 53.3 6 23.5

Connecticut 13 3 20.2 6 44.8 5 35.0

Delaware 1 0 8.2 1 56.8 0 35.0

District of Columbia 4 0 8.4 3 67.6 1 24.0

Florida 364 74 20.3 199 54.8 91 24.9

Georgia 31 6 20.9 17 55.3 7 23.8

Guam 2 0 18.9 1 49.5 1 31.6

Hawaii 6 1 17.8 2 40.3 3 41.9

Idaho 8 2 33.2 3 45.2 2 21.5

Illinois 54 13 23.6 21 39.3 20 37.1

Indiana 14 4 26.5 7 47.3 4 26.1

Iowa 13 5 36.7 7 50.0 2 13.3

Kansas 4 0 8.2 1 23.5 3 68.4

Kentucky 9 3 33.9 3 38.8 2 27.3

Louisiana 5 2 34.7 2 40.9 1 24.4

Maine 3 1 40.2 2 51.2 0 8.6

Maryland 20 5 26.3 11 55.4 4 18.3

Massachusetts 50 8 15.9 22 43.6 20 40.5

Michigan 54 15 27.1 27 49.8 12 23.1

Minnesota 38 16 42.1 18 47.4 4 10.4

Mississippi 1 – – 0 36.1 1 63.9

Missouri 7 2 27.6 4 60.1 1 12.4

Montana 0 – – 0 47.7 0 52.3

Nebraska 10 4 37.1 5 48.7 1 14.2

Nevada 28 2 8.8 16 58.9 9 32.3

New Hampshire 4 2 38.1 2 45.8 1 16.2

New Jersey 67 13 19.1 35 52.5 19 28.4

New Mexico 15 1 5.6 6 42.1 8 52.4

New York 266 69 25.8 108 40.5 90 33.7

North Carolina 17 3 18.7 11 62.5 3 18.8

North Dakota 5 2 36.8 3 56.0 0 7.2

Ohio 12 4 32.1 8 67.9 – – 

Oklahoma 8 1 9.6 5 69.3 2 21.1

Oregon 18 0 2.1 12 70.1 5 27.8

Pennsylvania 33 7 20.3 14 40.9 13 38.8

Rhode Island 10 3 32.4 4 42.9 2 24.7

South Carolina 6 2 30.5 4 69.5 – – 

South Dakota 3 1 44.9 1 47.8 0 7.4

Tennessee 10 2 18.0 6 55.1 3 26.8

Texas 208 27 13.0 114 54.8 67 32.3

Utah 10 4 40.6 4 44.0 1 15.3

Vermont 2 1 43.3 1 45.7 0 11.1

Virgin Islands 3 1 33.7 1 47.1 1 19.3

Virginia 20 7 34.4 11 52.1 3 13.5

Washington 52 11 21.7 25 48.5 16 29.8

West Virginia 0 – – 0 100.0 – – 

Wisconsin 16 3 18.0 10 60.9 3 21.2

Wyoming 0 – – 0 28.8 0 71.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

94 
APPENDIX B FOOTNOTES

APPENDIX B FOOTNOTES

a

 Due to rounding, some individual categories may not match the table total.

b Because net income is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households 

and 626,735 SSI-CAP households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are 

excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than 

the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

c

 Because deductions are not used in their benefit determinations, 626,735 SSI-CAP 

households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from this 

category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than the number of total 

SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

d

 Average shelter deduction (dollars) is over households with a shelter deduction. 

e

 With some exceptions, adult SNAP participants age 18 to 49 without disabilities in childless 

households are subject to work requirements and a time limit. 

f This category does not include households receiving a noncash benefit or a noncountable 

cash benefit (for example, households participating in MFIP). 

g

 Average values are over households with income source. 

h

 TANF income is not included in the MFIP gross income or used in the MFIP benefit 

calculation. Because of Federal Quality Control System constraints, this means that only a 

placeholder TANF amount, typically $1, may be reported for MFIP households in the SNAP 

Quality Control data file.

i

 Because this deduction is not used in their benefit determinations, 792,974 SSI-CAP 

households are excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer 

households than the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1.

j

 Codes to allow reporting of multiple races were implemented beginning in April 2007. We 

have grouped the codes together to form general race and ethnicity categories. Reporting of 

race and ethnicity is now voluntary and was missing for 16 percent of participants in fiscal 

year 2016. As a result, race and ethnicity distributions for fiscal year 2016 are not 

comparable to distributions for years prior to fiscal year 2007. 

k

 "Other" race includes household heads that are Asian, Native American, or those who 

reported multiple races that do not fit into the following categories: White, not Hispanic; 

African American, not Hispanic; or Hispanic, any race. 

l

 "Missing/unknown" race includes household heads for which racial/ethnic information was 

not recorded on the application, is not available because the application was not found, or is 

unknown, and households with no household head and no adult listed on the file. 

m Because this deduction is not used in their benefit determinations, 25,234 MFIP households 

and 626,735 SSI-CAP households in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are 

excluded from this category. Thus, the average values are based on fewer households than 

the number of total SNAP households shown in Appendix Table A.1. 

n

 Pure Public Assistance (PA) households are those in which each member (1) received SSI, 

(2) was covered by a cash TANF benefit, or (3) received General Assistance (GA) income.

97
o

 Other categorically eligible households are identified as such in the SNAP Quality Control 

data but are not pure cash PA households. Most are typically eligible through broad-based 

categorical eligibility or because of the receipt of noncash TANF benefits or services such 

as child care or transportation subsidies. Most of these households meet the Federal SNAP 

eligibility criteria.

p Defined as the fiscal year 2016 SNAP net income screen (see Appendix C). 

q Noncitizens may be inside or outside the SNAP unit. 

– No sample data in this category

n.a. Not applicable 

98
APPENDIX C 

FISCAL YEAR 2016 SNAP PARAMETERS

Table C.1. 2015 HHS poverty income guidelines

Household size 

(individuals)

Contiguous United States,

Guam, and the Virgin Islands Alaska Hawaii

1 $11,770 $14,720 $13,550

2 15,930 19,920 18,330

3 20,090 25,120 23,110

4 24,250 30,320 27,890

5 28,410 35,520 32,670

6 32,570 40,720 37,450

7 36,730 45,920 42,230

8 40,890 51,120 47,010

Each additional member +4,160 +5,200 +4,780

Source: 80 Federal Register 3236, January 22, 2015.

Note: HHS issued these numbers, which provide the basis for the fiscal year 2016 SNAP gross and net monthly 

income eligibility standards.

Table C.2. SNAP maximum allowable gross monthly income eligibility standards in fiscal year 2016

Household size (individuals)

Contiguous United States, 

Guam, and the Virgin Islands Alaska Hawaii

1 $1,276 $1,595 $1,468

2 1,726 2,158 1,986

3 2,177 2,722 2,504

4 2,628 3,285 3,022

5 3,078 3,848 3,540

6 3,529 4,412 4,058

7 3,980 4,975 4,575

8 4,430 5,538 5,093

Each additional member +451 +564 +518

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Note: The fiscal year 2016 SNAP gross monthly income limits were based on the 2015 poverty guidelines issued 

by HHS (see Appendix Table C.1). FNS derived the fiscal year 2016 gross income limits by multiplying the 

2015 poverty guidelines by 130 percent, dividing the results by 12, and then rounding up to the nearest 

dollar. 

101 
Table C.3. SNAP maximum allowable net monthly income eligibility standards in fiscal year 2016

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Note: The fiscal year 2016 SNAP net monthly income limits were based on the 2015 poverty guidelines issued by 

HHS (see Appendix Table C.1). FNS derived the fiscal year 2016 net income limits by dividing the 2015 

poverty guidelines by 12 and rounding up to the nearest dollar. 

Table C.4. Value of standard SNAP deductions and maximum excess shelter expense deductions in the 

contiguous United States and outlying areas in fiscal year 2016

Deduction Contiguous 

United States Alaska Hawaii Guam

Virgin 

Islands

Standard deduction . . . . . 

1 to 2 people $155 $265 $219 $312 $137

3 people 155 265 219 312 139

4 people 168 265 219 336 168

5 people 197 265 226 394 197

6 or more people 226 282 259 451 226

Maximum excess shelter 

expense deduction 504 805 679 592 397

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Notes: The Homeless Household Shelter Estimate was $143.

Certain State-specific programs did not apply all Federal SNAP deductions in the benefit calculation. Only 

the earnings deduction was used in the benefit calculation for MFIP households. No deductions were used 

for SSI-CAP households with standardized benefits. States with nonstandardized SSI-CAP benefits used 

the standard deduction and the excess shelter deduction when calculating benefit levels for SSI-CAP 

households.

Household size (individuals)

Contiguous United States, 

Guam, and the Virgin Islands Alaska Hawaii

1 $981 $1,227 $1,130

2 1,328 1,660 1,528

3 1,675 2,094 1,926

4 2,021 2,527 2,325

5 2,368 2,960 2,723

6 2,715 3,394 3,121

7 3,061 3,827 3,520

8 3,408 4,260 3,918

Each additional member +347 +434 +399

102 
Table C.5. Value of maximum monthly SNAP benefit in the contiguous United States and outlying areas in 

fiscal year 2016

Household size 

(individuals)

Contiguous 

United States

Alaska 

Urban

Alaska 

Rural I

Alaska 

Rural II Hawaii Guam

Virgin 

Islands

1 $194 $237 $302 $368 $343 $287 $250

2 357 435 554 675 630 526 459

3 511 622 794 966 902 753 657

4 649 790 1,008 1,227 1,146 957 835

5 771 939 1,197 1,457 1,361 1,136 991

6 925 1,127 1,437 1,749 1,633 1,364 1,189

7 1,022 1,245 1,588 1,933 1,805 1,507 1,315

8 1,169 1,423 1,815 2,209 2,063 1,723 1,503

Each additional 

member +146 +178 +227 +276 +258 +215 +188

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Notes: These maximum benefit values were based on 100 percent of the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in June 

2015 for a reference family of four, rounded to the lowest dollar increment. 

Due to the unusual nature of Alaska’s terrain and climate, areas outside major urban centers are less 

accessible to food distributors. Therefore, the value of the maximum benefit was adjusted to account for 

differences in the estimated cost of the Thrifty Food Plan in various regions of the State. For this purpose, 

all regions of Alaska were classified as Rural I, Rural II, or Urban. 

Table C.6. Value of minimum monthly SNAP benefit in the contiguous United States and outlying areas in 

fiscal year 2016

Household size 

(individuals)

Contiguous 

United 

States 

Alaska 

Urban

Alaska 

Rural I

Alaska 

Rural II Hawaii Guam

Virgin 

Islands

1 to 2 people $16 $19 $24 $29 $28 $23 $20

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Note: The minimum benefit, applicable to one- and two-person households, is equal to 8 percent of the maximum 

benefit for single-person households.

103 

APPENDIX D 

SOURCE AND RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES

SOURCE AND RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES

The estimates in this report are derived from a sample of households selected for review as 

part of the SNAP Quality Control System (SNAP QC). The system is designed to determine (1) 

if households are eligible for participation in SNAP and are receiving the correct benefit amount 

or (2) if household participation is correctly denied or terminated. It is based on State samples 

(from the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) of 

approximately 55,004 participating SNAP households and a somewhat smaller number of denials 

and terminations. Each month, State agencies select an independent sample of participating 

SNAP households. Annual required State samples depend upon the size of a State’s caseload and 

generally range from approximately 300 to 1,200 reviews. 

TARGET UNIVERSE

The target universe of this study is all participating households (active cases) subject to 

quality control review in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.33

Although most participating SNAP households are included in the target universe, certain 

types of households not subject to review are excluded. Specifically, the universe includes all 

households receiving SNAP benefits during the review period except those in which all 

participants (1) died or moved outside the State, (2) received benefits through a disaster 

certification authorized by FNS, (3) were under investigation for SNAP fraud (including those 

with pending fraud hearings) and/or were appealing a notice of adverse action, or (4) received 

restored benefits in accordance with the State manual but were otherwise ineligible. The 

sampling unit within the universe each month is the active SNAP household as specified in FNS 

regulations. 

DATA EDITING

The estimates in this report are derived from the fiscal year 2016 SNAP QC data file, an 

edited version of the raw data file generated by the Quality Control System. The raw fiscal year 

2016 data are made up of monthly samples from October 2015 through September 2016. 

Households with an incomplete Quality Control review or those found ineligible for SNAP 

benefits were dropped from the edited data file. Of the 55,004 sample cases in the raw data file, 

2,738 were determined to be not subject to review (Appendix Table D.1). Of those cases subject 

to review, 4,966 did not undergo a complete review because the household failed to cooperate, 

could not be located, or all members had died or moved. An additional 615 households were 

found either ineligible for SNAP or eligible for SNAP but ineligible for a positive benefit and 

thus were dropped from the data file.34 An additional 90 households were dropped from the file 

due to internal inconsistencies that could not be resolved, as discussed below. The final 

33 Participating households in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been included in the target universe since 

fiscal year 1993. Prior to that, the universe excluded households in those areas.

34 Eligible one- and two-person SNAP units are guaranteed a minimum benefit. However, it is possible for larger 

units to be eligible for SNAP but have net income high enough that they do not qualify for a positive benefit. The 

eligible households dropped from the data file were found by the reviewer to have a benefit over-issuance equal to 

or greater than the recorded benefit.

107 

 
unweighted number of households in the fiscal year 2016 SNAP QC file is 46,595. Appendix 

Table D.2 shows the distribution of these unweighted households by State. 

Table D.1. Number and percentage of cases sampled, dropped from the edited file, and included in the edited 

file

 Fiscal year 

2016 SNAP 

QC sample

Percentage 

of cases 

sampled

Percentage of 

cases subject 

to review

Number of cases sampled 55,004 100.0 n.a.

Cases not subject to review 2,738 5.0 n.a.

Cases deselected to correct for oversampling 0 0.0 n.a.

Cases subject to review 52,266 95.0 100.0

Incomplete cases 4,966 9.0 9.5

Cases completed 47,300 86.0 90.5

Not eligible for SNAP 398 0.7 0.8

Not eligible for a positive benefit 217 0.4 0.4

Eligible for a positive benefit 46,685 84.9 89.3

Dropped due to unresolved inconsistencies 90 0.2 0.2

SNAP households in the final file 46,595 84.7 89.1

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Failure to complete reviews for all cases subject to review may bias the sample results if the 

characteristics of households not reviewed differ significantly from those of reviewed 

households. In the absence of direct measures of such differences, the ratio of completed reviews 

to total cases subject to review provides an indication of the magnitude of any potential bias. For 

fiscal year 2016, the completion rate was 91 percent, 1 percentage point lower than in fiscal year 

2015. 

Consistent measures of unit size, income, and benefit level are important to any analysis of 

SNAP households. Inconsistencies may occur in the initial case record information, the 

transcription and data entry process, or the extraction of SNAP information for the selected 

months. 

To obtain the highest degree of consistency between related variables in the data while 

maintaining the database’s integrity, the reported raw data are edited as described in the 

Technical Documentation for the Fiscal Year 2016 SNAP QC Database and QC Minimodel. For 

instance, in most cases, a household’s net countable income should equal the household’s gross 

countable income minus the total deductions for which the household is eligible. Also, the SNAP 

benefit level should equal the household’s maximum benefit minus 30 percent of the household’s 

net countable income. Exceptions are households participating in MFIP and SSI-CAP in States 

with standardized benefit amounts. These households are subject to different eligibility and 

benefit determination rules, and their data have been edited accordingly. Additionally, if the 

value of deductions exceeds gross income, net income is equal to zero. 

Although most inconsistencies in these basic relationships were resolved in the editing 

process, the measures could not be reconciled for 90 records in the raw data file. These 90

records were therefore dropped from the edited data file.

108 
Table D.2. Unweighted distribution of participating households by State

 SNAP households

State Number Percent

Total 46,595 100.0

Alabama 1,027 2.2

Alaska 522 1.1

Arizona 925 2.0

Arkansas 1,132 2.4

California 829 1.8

Colorado 853 1.8

Connecticut 881 1.9

Delaware 876 1.9

District of Columbia 1,020 2.2

Florida 985 2.1

Georgia 1,072 2.3

Guam 453 1.0

Hawaii 903 1.9

Idaho 987 2.1

Illinois 1,003 2.2

Indiana 902 1.9

Iowa 973 2.1

Kansas 940 2.0

Kentucky 1,086 2.3

Louisiana 916 2.0

Maine 968 2.1

Maryland 827 1.8

Massachusetts 958 2.1

Michigan 947 2.0

Minnesota 1,068 2.3

Mississippi 962 2.1

Missouri 761 1.6

Montana 787 1.7

Nebraska 912 2.0

Nevada 960 2.1

New Hampshire 686 1.5

New Jersey 879 1.9

New Mexico 950 2.0

New York 912 2.0

North Carolina 977 2.1

North Dakota 446 1.0

Ohio 1,008 2.2

Oklahoma 1,034 2.2

Oregon 846 1.8

Pennsylvania 917 2.0

Rhode Island 977 2.1

South Carolina 1,005 2.2

South Dakota 729 1.6

Tennessee 1,041 2.2

Texas 992 2.1

Utah 891 1.9

Vermont 681 1.5

Virgin Islands 302 0.6

Virginia 809 1.7

Washington 913 2.0

West Virginia 921 2.0

Wisconsin 897 1.9

Wyoming 347 0.7

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

109 
WEIGHTING

The estimates for fiscal year 2016 in this report are based on a sample of 46,595 valid 

observations. The sample records have been weighted to match SNAP Program Operations totals 

after adjustment to remove households ineligible for benefits as well as those receiving benefits 

issued through the SNAP disaster assistance program, as these households are not included in the 

SNAP QC data file.35 The weighting procedure matches to SNAP Program Operations totals for 

(1) the monthly number of participating households by State and stratum, (2) the monthly 

number of participants by State, and (3) the monthly total benefits issued by State. Appendix 

Table D.3 compares the Quality Control System sample-based estimates to aggregate program 

participation data for fiscal year 2016. 

The fiscal year 2016 weighting methodology is similar to that used for the fiscal year 2003 

through fiscal year 2015 SNAP QC data files. However, it differs from the weighting 

methodology used in the development of the SNAP QC data files prior to fiscal year 2003.36

SNAP QC data files before fiscal year 2003 are weighted to match the monthly number of SNAP 

households by State and stratum, unadjusted for ineligible households or the disaster assistance 

program. 

Table D.3. Comparison of program data to edited SNAP QC data file

 Fiscal year 2016

Average monthly value Program data

Adjustments 

for disaster 

assistance a

Adjustments 

for ineligible 

households

Edited SNAP 

QC data file

Number of households 21,777,938 30,570 236,363 21,511,005

Number of participants 44,219,363 72,946 607,562 43,538,855

Value of benefits (dollars) 5,544,945,935 23,550,275 168,384,825 5,353,010,835

Average household size 2.03 2.39 2.57 2.02

Average benefit per person (dollars) 125.40 - 277.15 122.95

Average benefit per household (dollars) 254.61 - 712.40 248.85

Sources: Fiscal Year 2016 Program Operations Data and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality 

Control data file.

a Adjustments are made for households and individuals who received disaster SNAP assistance only. 

Adjustments are made to benefits for disaster SNAP benefits issued to disaster SNAP households as well as 

replacement benefits issued to qualifying ongoing SNAP households. As a result, the average disaster SNAP 

benefit per person cannot be calculated from the information in this table.

COMPARISON TO REPORTED DATA

Appendix Table D.4 compares the reported and calculated values of selected variables for 

fiscal year 2016. Reported values and averages reflect those in the SNAP QC data file before any 

35 The adjusted total number of households and benefits are lower than Program Operations data figures by about 1 

and 3 percent, respectively.

36 Prior to the fiscal year 2009 report, the fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004 SNAP QC data files were weighted 

to match the disaster- and error-adjusted monthly numbers of SNAP households, but not individuals or benefits, by 

State and stratum.

110 

 
editing has taken place. Calculated values and averages are based on the edited data file used for 

this report. 

Table D.4. Comparison of calculated and reported values for selected variables of participating households

 Households with:

Variable

All 

households

Earned 

income

Elderly

individuals Children

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

.Average gross income (dollars) . . . . . 

Calculated 814 1,306 893 1,037 1,019

Reported 814 1,306 893 1,037 1,019

.Average net income (dollars) a . . . . .

Calculated 374 609 434 497 498

Reported 367 601 427 491 493

.Average total deduction (dollars) b . . . . .

Calculated 539 743 540 633 555

Reported 538 744 541 631 555

.Average SNAP benefit (dollars) . . . . .

Calculated 249 298 124 388 187

Reported 249 298 125 389 187

.Percentage with zero gross income . . . . .

Calculated 20.4 0.0 7.2 13.6 0.0

Reported 20.5 0.1 7.2 13.8 0.0

.Percentage with zero net income . . . . .

Calculated 37.2 20.7 18.8 33.0 13.1

Reported 40.2 21.4 26.3 33.9 16.8

Percentage with minimum benefit . . . . . 

Calculated 8.1 6.6 19.2 1.6 12.0

Reported 7.8 6.1 18.9 1.4 11.8

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control data file.

a Because net income is not used in their benefit determination, 25,234 households participating in MFIP and 626,735 

households participating in an SSI-CAP program in States that use standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from 

this comparison.

b Because deductions are not used in their benefit determination, 626,735 SSI-CAP households in States that use 

standardized SSI-CAP benefits are excluded from this comparison.

c Reported benefit adjusted for reported over-issuance errors, under-issuance errors, and partial benefits received in 

the initial certification month. 

111 

APPENDIX E 

SAMPLING ERROR OF ESTIMATES

SAMPLING ERROR OF ESTIMATES

The estimates of the characteristics of SNAP households in this report are based on a sample 

of households and, consequently, are subject to statistical sampling error. One indicator of the 

magnitude of the sampling error associated with a given estimate is its standard error. Standard 

error measures the variation in estimated values that would be observed if multiple replications 

of the sample were drawn. The magnitude of the standard error depends on (1) the degree of 

variation in the variable within the population from which the sample is drawn; (2) the design of 

the sample, including such issues as stratification and sampling probabilities; and (3) the size of 

the sample on which the estimate is based. This appendix presents estimates of the standard 

errors associated with key statistics and describes the methods for estimating the standard errors 

of other statistics for which standard errors have not been directly calculated.

STANDARD ERRORS

The standard error of an estimated proportion of households ( ) based on a simple random 

sample is: 

(1) , 

where p is the weighted estimate of the proportion, N is the number of households in the 

population, and n is the sample size.37 The standard error of an estimated number of households 

( ) based on a simple random sample is: 

(2) . 

These formulas for the standard errors of estimates based on a simple random sample do not 

necessarily apply to estimates derived from more complex samples, such as the stratified design 

of the SNAP QC sample. In this appendix, standard errors calculated using Equations (1) and 

(2) are referred to as “naive standard errors.” Standard errors can be estimated more accurately 

using a bootstrap method. 

37 More precisely, is the sample size (number of households) corresponding to the population that forms the 

denominator or “base” of the proportion being estimated. When the base is all SNAP households in fiscal year 2016

 . Sample sizes for selected demographic subgroups for fiscal year 2016 are shown in the sample size 

column of Appendix Table E.1. For subgroups not shown in Appendix Table E.1, the sample size can be 

approximated by multiplying the total sample size (46,595) by the ratio of the subgroup population size to the total 

population size ( ). For example, in fiscal year 2016, and there were 4,677,000 elderly 

households (households with at least one or more elderly individuals). Thus, the approximate sample size for elderly 

households in fiscal year 2016 would be calculated as . In this case, 

the approximation can be compared to the true sample size of households with elderly individuals of 9,843, as 

shown in Appendix Table E.1.

115 

 
The bootstrap method requires the computation of 500 sets of replicate household weights. 

Each set is calculated using a nonlinear programming method based on a random sample of the 

SNAP QC data file. These replicate weights then are used to calculate standard errors. The 

following discussion presents standard errors of selected estimates that were computed using the 

bootstrap method. It then presents a simple method for approximating standard errors of 

estimates for which individual standard errors have not been computed. 

STANDARD ERRORS OF ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF HOUSEHOLDS

The standard errors of selected estimates of SNAP households in fiscal year 2016 are shown 

in Appendix Table E.1. These standard errors can be used to compute confidence intervals for 

the estimated number of households with a particular characteristic.38 For example, the estimated 

number of SNAP households that receive the minimum benefit is 1,737,000 (Appendix Table 

A.1) and the corresponding standard error is 37,657 (Appendix Table E.1). The 95 percent 

confidence interval thus extends from 1,661,000 to 1,812,000.39

For standard errors not shown in Appendix Table E.1, the approximate standard error ( ES ) 

of an estimated number of households for fiscal year 2016 can be calculated using Equation (3): 

(3) E N S Sd = , 

where NS is the naive standard error from Equation (2) above and d is the square root of the 

design effect for the population subgroup and characteristic of interest from Appendix Table E.2. 

The design effect reflects the loss of precision due to the different sampling rates in different 

strata of the SNAP QC sample. It is the ratio of the variance computed by the bootstrap method 

(Appendix Table E.1) to the naive variance.40 When the population subgroup (for example, 

households with an elderly individual) is listed in Appendix Table E.2 but the characteristic of 

interest is not, the average square root of the design effect for the subgroup from the right-hand 

column of Appendix Table E.2 is used. When neither the subgroup nor the characteristic is listed, 

use the average square root of the design effect for all SNAP households, 1.61. 

For example, to estimate the standard error of the number of households containing an 

elderly individual with zero net income, the first step is to obtain the size of the estimate. As 

shown in Appendix Table A.3, 880,000 households with elderly individuals have zero net 

income. 

38 A confidence interval is a range of values that will contain the true value of an estimated characteristic with a 

known probability. For instance, a 95 percent confidence interval extends approximately two standard errors above 

and below the estimated value for a characteristic, and 95 percent of all confidence intervals will contain the true 

value.

39 Calculated as: (1,737,000 (2 37,657)) 1,661,000 − = x and (1,737,000 (2 37,657)) 1,812,000 + = x . 

40 The variance and naive variance are the standard error and naive standard error squared, respectively.

116 

 
The next step is to calculate the naive standard error. Using Equations (1) and (2), the value 

is 18,407.41 Multiplying 18,407 by the square root of the design effect (d), 1.76, from Appendix 

Table E.2 yields an estimated standard error of 32,476. 

STANDARD ERRORS OF ESTIMATED PERCENTAGES

Comparing Equations (1) and (2), it is apparent that the standard error of an estimated 

percentage of households, , is equal to the standard error of the corresponding count of 

households, , divided by the number of households in the population that forms the base of 

the percentage:

(4) . 

For example, Appendix Table A.17 shows that, of the 9,224,000 households with children, 

1,256,000 (13.6 percent) have no gross income. The standard error ( ) of the number of 

households with children with no gross income is 31,231 (Appendix Table E.1). To calculate 

the standard error of the corresponding percentage estimate, simply divide by the number of 

households in the population that forms the base of the percentage—in this case, 9,224,000 

households with children. The resulting standard error of the percentage estimate is 0.3 

percentage points, and the corresponding 95 percent confidence interval extends from 12.9 to 

14.3 percent around the point estimate of 13.6 percent. 

Equation (4) can also be applied to standard errors not shown in Appendix Table E.1. First, 

calculate the adjusted naive standard error of the number of households using Equation (3). 

Then, divide the resulting standard error by the size of the population that forms the base of the 

percentage. Returning to an earlier example—of the 4,677,000 households with elderly 

individuals, 880,000 (18.8 percent) have zero net income. Dividing the adjusted naive standard 

error (calculated above as 18,407) by 4,677,000 yields an adjusted naive standard error of the 

percentage estimate of 0.4 percentage points.

STANDARD ERRORS OF ESTIMATED MEANS

The standard errors for selected estimated means for fiscal year 2016 are provided in 

Appendix Table E.3. For example, the standard error of the mean gross income for all SNAP 

households in fiscal year 2016 is $3.65 (Appendix Table E.3) and the mean itself is $813 

(Appendix Table A.2). Therefore, a 95 percent confidence interval extends from approximately 

$806 to $821. 

41 Equation (1):

 

Equation (2): , 

where 4,677,000 is the estimated population of elderly households, 880,000 is the estimated population of elderly 

households with zero net income, 9,843 is the sample size of elderly households (Appendix Table E.1), and 18,407

is the standard error.

117 
Generalized approximation methods, such as that used in Equation (3), work well for 

standard errors of estimated numbers and percentages because standard errors depend only on 

sample size, estimated proportion, and design effects. Generalized methods are less appropriate 

for standard errors of means because the standard error depends upon the variance as well as the 

sample size and design effects. Nevertheless, a rough approximation of the magnitude of 

standard errors of means not included in Appendix Table E.3 can be obtained from Appendix 

Table E.4, which shows for each variable in Appendix Table E.3 the average, minimum, and 

maximum value of that variable’s standard error as a percentage of the variable’s mean value. 

These three values are shown for all SNAP households and for selected subgroups. The standard 

errors in Appendix Table E.4 incorporate design effects.

118 
119 

Table E.1. Standard errors of estimated numbers of SNAP households

 Households (000) with: 

 

Zero 

gross 

income

Zero 

net 

income

Minimum 

benefits 

Earned 

income

Elderly 

individuals Children

Schoolage 

children

Non-elderly 

individuals 

with 

disabilities

Sample 

size

Estimated 

population 

(000)

All SNAP households 70.23 93.31 37.66 81.84 57.28 87.30 70.75 54.56 46,595 21,511

With elderly 

individuals 20.92 32.51 28.28 20.60 57.28 13.70 13.59 7.95 9,843 4,677

Without elderly 

individuals 66.78 86.50 27.41 80.93 0.00 85.27 69.04 54.20 36,752 16,834

With children 31.23 47.85 12.43 76.93 13.70 87.30 70.75 34.56 19,628 9,224

With school-age 

children 27.66 44.06 11.23 65.54 13.59 70.75 70.75 32.34 15,494 7,349

Without children 62.46 83.63 37.67 38.12 57.06 0.00 0.00 46.34 26,967 12,287

With earnings 0.00 37.08 20.20 81.84 20.60 76.93 65.54 19.30 14,496 6,864

With non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities 0.56 22.55 21.97 19.30 7.95 34.56 32.34 54.56 10,585 4,364

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Note: Standard errors were estimated using the bootstrap method.
120 

Table E.2. Square root of design effects (d) for standard errors of estimated numbers or percentages of SNAP households

 Households with: 

Base of estimated 

number

Zero 

gross 

income

Zero net 

income

Minimum 

benefits 

Earned 

income

Elderly 

individuals Children

Schoolage 

children

Non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities

Average 

square root 

of design 

effect

All SNAP 

households 1.75 1.94 1.39 1.76 1.39 1.77 1.50 1.36 1.61

With elderly 

individuals 1.71 1.76 1.52 1.75 n.a. 1.51 1.55 1.30 1.59

Without elderly 

individuals 1.78 1.99 1.44 1.89 n.a. 1.95 1.59 1.42 1.72

With children 1.38 1.54 1.50 2.35 1.50 n.a. 2.67 1.51 1.78

With school-age 

children 1.46 1.62 1.55 2.24 1.54

n.a. n.a.

1.51 1.66

Without children 1.91 2.28 1.50 1.45 1.58 n.a. n.a. 1.43 1.69

With earnings n.a. 1.61 1.43 n.a. 1.73 3.09 2.35 1.34 1.92

With non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities 0.88 1.58 1.59 1.47 1.39 1.79 1.74 n.a. 1.49

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Note: The design effect is the ratio of the variance computed by the bootstrap method to the naive variance for the specific cell of the table. The average 

square root of design effect for each row is a simple arithmetic average of the values for each cell in the row.

n.a. = not applicable.
121 

Table E.3. Standard errors of estimated means

 

Gross 

income

Net 

income Benefits 

All 

deductions

Total 

resources

Household 

size

Certification 

period Earningsa TANFa SSIa

Shelter 

deductiona

All SNAP households 3.65 1.80 0.32 2.40 0.46 0.00 0.06 7.64 9.98 4.51 1.81

With elderly 

individuals 7.44 6.23 1.48 5.22 1.17 0.01 0.16 39.20 47.97 7.09 4.88

Without elderly 

individuals 4.55 2.39 0.77 2.79 0.51 0.00 0.05 7.66 10.21 5.48 1.92

With children 6.44 4.94 2.44 3.42 0.80 0.02 0.03 10.46 10.22 11.85 2.45

With school-age

children 8.16 6.48 2.83 3.76 0.92 0.03 0.03 12.31 12.88 12.78 2.60

Without children 5.78 4.19 0.75 2.84 0.56 0.00 0.09 13.87 32.42 4.60 2.68

With earnings 7.97 6.57 1.99 3.78 0.95 0.02 0.04 7.64 15.69 15.98 2.52

With non-elderly 

individuals with 

disabilities 6.91 6.82 2.18 4.58 1.21 0.02 0.15 31.11 11.13 5.46 4.25

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Note: Standard errors were estimated using the bootstrap method.

a For households with a nonzero amount.
Table E.4. Range of standard errors of mean amounts expressed as a percentage of the mean amount

 

Standard error as

percentage of the mean amount

Number of households in base of mean (000) Averagea Lowestb Highestc

21,511 (All SNAP households) 0.9 0.0 3.2

4,677 (Households with elderly individuals) 3.1 0.8 14.2

9,224 (Households with children) 1.3 0.3 4.7

6,864 (Households with earnings) 1.6 0.4 5.0

4,364 (Households with non-elderly individuals with 

disabilities) 2.0 0.7 7.2

Source: Fiscal Year 2016 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Quality Control sample.

Note: Standard errors from Appendix Table E.3 and mean amounts from applicable text tables.

a Average standard error across all 11 variables in Appendix Table E.3 expressed as a percentage of the mean 

amount.

b Lowest of the standard errors across all 11 variables in Appendix Table E.3 expressed as a percentage of the mean 

amount.

c Highest of the standard errors across all 11 variables in Appendix Table E.3 expressed as a percentage of the mean 

amount.

122 
APPENDIX F 

DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

4. Local Agency

9.SNAP Allotment Under Review

PRIVACY ACT/PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0299. The to complete this collection is estimated to average 1.056 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. This report is required under provisions of 7 CFR 275.14. This needed for the review of State performance in determining recipient eligibility. The information is used to determine State compliance, anreport may result in a finding of non-compliance.

Section 2 - Detailed Error Findings

12. Element

3. State 

13. Nature

2. Case Number

14. Cause 15. Error Finding

1. QC Review Number

16. Error Amount 17. Discovery 18. Verified 19. Occurre

a. Date

Section 1 - Review Summary

8. Findings 

7. Disposition

5. Sample Month 

10. Error Amount

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Food and Nutrition Service

QUALITY CONTROL REVIEW SCHEDULE

13425678

FORM FNS-380-1 (11-12) Previous Editions Obsolete SBU Electronic Form Version D

125
Section 3 - Household Characteristics

20. Most Recent Cert. Action  Month, Day, Year

21. Type of Action 22. Length of Cert. Period 

 #of months

23. Allotment Adjustment 24. A

Allot

 25. Number of Household Members

 26. Receipt of Expedited Service

27. Authorized Representative  Used at Application

28. Categorical Eligibility 29. Repor

Resources:

30. Liquid 31. Property 

(excluding home)

32a. Vehicle 32b. Status 

2nd Vehicle

33. Countable Vehicle Assets

Income:

35. Gross 36. Net

Deductions:

37. Earned Income 38. Medical 39. Dependent Care 40. Child Support 41. Shelte

 Additional Information on  Shelter Costs:

43. Rent/Mortgage 44. Use of SUA 

a. Usage b. Proration

45. Utilities (SUA or Actual)

126
Section 4 - Information on Each Household Member

46. Person Number

47. SNAP Participation

48. Relation  to Head  of HH

49. Age 50. Sex 51. Race 52. Citizen 

Status

53. Edu. Level

54. Employment Status Hours

55. SNAP Work Reg.

56. SE & T

You may record information on up to 16 individuals using additional pages.

127
Section 5 - Income Identified by Household Member

61. Amount Source 2 62. Income Type 63. Amount Source 3 64. Income Type 65. Amount So

66

Section 7 - Optional For State Use

1.2.3.4.

59. Person NumberYou may record income on up to 10 individuals by using additional pages.

Source 1 60. Income Type

Section 6 - Reserved Coding

68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76.

128
INDEX

INDEX

Page(s) 

Able-bodied adults ....................................... (see Non-elderly childless adults without disabilities) 

Age ......................................................................... 3, 6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 29-34, 37 

 38, 41, 46, 47, 53-58, 67, 81, 90, 91, 94, 119-121 

Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) ...............................................................................3, 29 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) ...........................................11, 27, 29 

Asset limit ......................................................................................................... (see Resource limit) 

Assets, countable...................................................................................................... (see Resources) 

Asylees ...........................................................................................................................................32 

Benefits .................................................. 1-11, 13-17, 20-23, 29-33, 37, 38, 41-43, 46, 47, 49, 50, 

52, 53, 55, 57-59, 61, 62, 65-67, 77, 78, 89, 102, 

103, 107, 108, 110, 111, 116, 119-121 

Maximum .................................. 2, 8-10, 16, 29, 31-33, 37, 38, 46, 47, 49, 50, 55, 58, 103, 108 

Minimum............................... 9, 31, 32, 37, 38, 46, 47, 50, 55, 58, 65, 103, 111, 116, 119, 120 

Prorated ........................................................................................................................21, 22, 62 

Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) ..........................................................4, 10, 27, 29, 67 

Categorically eligible households ..................................................................... 3, 4, 6, 9, 29, 32, 88 

Certification period (see also Expedited service, Recertification) ..........................8, 29, 31, 38, 50, 

53, 57, 59, 78, 121 

Child support income ............................................................................................16, 33, 42, 43, 46 

Child support payment deduction ............................................. 5, 29, 30 33, 46, 47, 49, 55, 57-59 

Children...............................................................................3, 5, 7, 13-22, 17, 29-34, 37-39, 41, 42, 

44-50, 52-58, 60-63, 65, 67, 81, 90-94, 111, 117, 119-122 

Citizenship (see also Noncitizen) .......................... 6, 7, 21, 22, 30-32, 37, 38, 61, 62, 65, 92-94, 98 

Contributions......................................................................................................................33, 42, 43 

Countable resources ...........................................................................3, 6, 8, 29, 30, 32, 41, 55, 121 

Deductions ................................................................... 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 23, 29-33, 38, 43, 46-49, 53, 

55, 57-59, 66, 78, 80, 84, 102, 108, 111, 121 

 Child support payment ........................................................ 5, 29, 30, 33, 46, 47, 49, 55, 57-59 

Dependent care.................................................................................. 5, 30, 33, 46-48, 55, 57-59

 Earned income ............................................................................ 5, 30, 33, 46-48, 55, 57-59, 84 

Excess shelter expense .................................... 5, 6, 30, 33, 46, 47, 49, 55, 57-59, 80, 102, 121 

Medical expense.......................................................................... 5, 10, 31, 33, 46-49, 55, 57-59 

Standard ...............................................................................................5, 10, 31, 33, 55, 58, 102 

Deemed income ...........................................................................................................30, 33, 42, 43 

Dependent care deduction ....................................................................... 5, 30, 33, 46-48, 55, 57-59

131
Deportees ...................................................................................................................................7, 32 

Earned income .................................................... 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17-19, 21, 23, 29, 30, 33, 37, 38, 

42-50, 54-55, 57-61, 65, 82-84, 111, 119, 120 

Earned income deduction .................................................................. 5, 30, 33, 46-48, 55, 57-59, 84 

Educational loans .................................................................................................................4, 42, 43 

Elderly individuals ......................................................................... 3-6, 8-10, 13, 14, 16-22, 30-32, 

37-39, 41, 42, 44-50, 52-58, 60-62, 65, 

67, 81, 90, 94, 111, 116, 117, 119-122 

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) .................................................................................1, 10, 27, 30 

Energy assistance .....................................................................................................4, 29, 33, 42, 43 

Entrant households .............................................................................................................30, 51, 85 

Excess shelter expense deduction .......................... 5, 6, 30, 33, 46, 47, 49, 55, 57-59, 80, 101, 121 

Expedited service households ........................................................................................8, 30, 51, 85 

Gender ................................................................................................................................62, 63, 67 

General Assistance (GA) ...... 4, 18, 19, 27, 29, 32, 33, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 47, 54, 55, 57-59, 82, 83 

Gross income ......................................................................4, 5, 8-10, 14-21, 23, 29, 30, 33, 37-41, 

43, 46, 47, 53-55, 57-59, 65, 66, 78, 79, 101, 108, 111, 117, 119-121 

Gross income limit ...........................................................................................................10, 30, 101 

Homeless household shelter estimate ....................................................................................30, 102 

Household composition .......................................9, 13-22, 30-33, 37, 38, 41, 46, 47, 52-56, 58, 81 

 Married head with children households ................................................ 14, 16, 18-20, 31, 52-54 

 Single adult with children households .............................................14-16, 18-20, 32, 52-54, 81

Household head ................................................................................................ 14, 31-32, 60, 64, 86 

Household size ................................................................ 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 20, 30-33, 38, 40, 41, 43, 

53, 56-59, 63, 66, 78, 101-103, 108, 110, 121 

Households, participating ...... 1, 13, 14, 32, 37-61, 65, 66, 77, 79-82, 84, 86, 87, 89, 107, 109-111 

Income, monthly countable ......... 3-6, 8-10, 13-21, 23, 27, 29-33, 37-50, 53-55, 57-61, 65, 66, 78, 

79, 82-84, 101, 102, 108, 111, 116, 117, 119, 120, 121 

 Child support ..........................................................................................................16, 33, 42, 43 

Earned ........................................................... 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17-19, 21, 23, 29, 30, 33, 37, 38, 

42-50, 54-55, 57-61, 65, 82-84, 111, 119, 120 

General Assistance (GA) ...... 4, 18, 19, 27, 29, 32, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 47, 54, 55, 57-59, 82, 83 

Gross .............................................................................4, 5, 8-10, 14-21, 23, 29, 30, 33, 37-41, 

43, 46, 47, 53-55, 57-59, 65, 66, 78, 79, 101, 108, 111, 117, 119-121 

 Net ..................................................................... 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 30-33, 37-41, 43, 46, 

47, 53, 55, 57-59, 65-66, 78, 101, 102, 108, 111, 116, 117, 119-121 

Social Security ........................... 15-19, 21, 31, 33, 37, 38, 42, 43, 45-47, 54, 55, 57-59, 82, 83 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) .................... 4, 8-10, 15-19, 21, 27, 29-33, 37, 38, 42-47, 

54, 55, 57-59, 65, 82, 83, 102, 108, 121 

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 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) ................ 4, 6-8, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 23, 27, 

 29, 32, 33, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 47, 

50, 54, 55, 57-61, 65, 82, 83, 121 

Unearned ................................................................................... 29, 33, 37, 38, 42-47, 55, 57-59 

Initial certification households .........................................................................................8, 9, 31, 51 

Lawful permanent resident noncitizens .....................................................................6, 7, 21, 31, 32 

Married-head households ............................................................................ 14, 16, 18-20, 31, 52-54 

Maximum benefit ............................ 2, 8-10, 16, 29, 31-33, 37, 38, 46, 47, 49, 50, 55, 58, 103, 108 

Medical expense deduction ............................................................... 5, 10, 31, 33, 46-49, 55, 57-59 

Medical deduction demonstrations ......................................................................................5, 10, 31 

Metropolitan households ..............................................................................................31, 32, 37, 38 

Micropolitan households ..............................................................................................31, 32, 37, 38 

Minimum benefit .........................9, 31, 32, 37, 38, 46, 47, 50, 55, 58, 65, 103, 111, 116, 119, 120 

Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) ..................................10, 27, 30, 32, 102, 108, 111 

Net income 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 30-33, 37-41, 43, 46, 

47, 53, 55, 57-59, 65-66, 78, 101, 102, 108, 111, 116, 117, 119-121 

Net income limit ................................................................................................................3, 32, 102 

Noncitizens ................................................................. 6, 7, 21, 22, 30-32, 37, 38, 61, 62, 65, 92-94 

Asylees .................................................................................................................................7, 32 

Deportees .............................................................................................................................7, 32 

 Lawful permanent resident noncitizens ...............................................................6, 7, 21, 31, 32 

Nonimmigrant visitors to the United States .........................................................................6, 32 

Refugees ...........................................................................................7, 21, 22, 32, 61, 62, 92, 93 

Non-elderly adults ............................................................. 16-22, 32, 51, 53, 54, 62, 64, 67, 90, 94 

Non-elderly childless adults without disabilities .......... 10, 17-19, 22, 33, 37, 38, 52-54, 62, 81, 91 

Non-elderly individuals with disabilities ...................... 13, 14, 17-22, 37-39, 41, 42, 44-50, 52-57, 

60-62, 65, 81, 91, 111, 119-121 

Nonimmigrant visitors to the United States ...............................................................................6, 32 

Nonparticipating household head ..........................................................................31, 32, 60, 61, 64 

Participants .....................................7-14, 17, 21, 22, 30, 33, 37, 52, 62-64, 67, 77, 90-94, 107, 110 

Poverty, individuals in ....................................................................................................... 11-15, 89 

Poverty guidelines ............... 3, 4, 10, 13-15, 29, 30, 32, 37-41, 53, 57, 59, 66, 78, 79, 89, 101, 102 

Preschool-age children ....................................................... 22, 32, 37, 38, 41, 46, 47, 55-58, 62, 90 

Prorated benefit ..................................................................................................................21, 22, 62 

Pure Public Assistance (PA) ................................................................................................4, 32, 88 

Race/Hispanic status ..........................................................................................................60, 62, 86 

Recertification ......................................................................................................................8, 29, 51 

Refugees .................................................................................................7, 21, 22, 32, 61, 62, 92, 93 

Resource limit ..........................................................................................................3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 32 

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Rural ...........................................................................................................................32, 37, 38, 103 

School-age children ...................................... 21, 22, 32, 37, 38, 41, 46, 47, 55-58, 62, 90, 119-121 

Self-employment income .............................................................................................30, 42, 43, 64 

Sex ................................................................................................................................ (see Gender) 

Shelter deduction ................................................................. (see Excess shelter expense deduction) 

Single adult with children households ...................................................14-16, 18-20, 32, 52-54, 81

Single-person households .....................................16-21, 31, 33, 40, 41 52-54, 56, 58, 63, 101-103 

Social Security ................................. 15-19, 21, 31, 33, 37, 38, 42, 43, 45-47, 54, 55, 57-59, 82, 83 

Social Security Administration (SSA) .................................................................................9, 27, 33 

SSI-Combined Application Project (SSI-CAP) .............................8, 9, 10, 27, 30, 32, 33, 102, 108 

Standard deduction.....................................................................................5, 10, 31, 33, 55, 58, 102 

Standard error....................................................................................................................... 115-122 

Standard utility allowance (SUA) ............................................................................5, 10, 27, 33, 87 

State diversion payments ...............................................................................................................33 

States ........................................................................4-10, 29, 30, 33, 67, 77-94, 102, 103, 107-110 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) .......................... 4, 8-10, 15-19, 21, 27, 29-33, 37, 38, 42-47, 

54, 55, 57-59, 65, 82, 83, 102, 108, 121 

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) ................ 4, 6-8, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 23, 27, 29, 

32, 33, 37, 38, 42-44, 46, 47, 50, 

54, 55, 57-61, 65, 82, 83, 121 

Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) ..................................................................................9, 29, 31, 33, 63, 103 

Unearned income ............................................................................ 29, 33, 37, 38, 42-47, 55, 57-59 

Unemployment income ............................................................................................7, 33, 34, 42, 43 

Veterans’ benefits ........................................................................................................31, 33, 42, 43 

Wage supplementation .......................................................................................................33, 42, 43 

Wages .................................................................................................................................30, 42, 43 

Work registration ...............................................................................................................31, 33, 64 

Work requirements and a time limit ..........................................................................7, 8, 17, 33, 91 

Workers’ compensation .........................................................................................31, 33, 42, 43, 73 

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