Budget Briefing Book TANF Plan Food Stamps Households can use food stamp benefits to buy any food or food product for human consumption, plus seeds and plants for use in home gardens to produce food. Certain restaurants can be authorized to accept food stamps in exchange for low-cost meals from qualified homeless, elderly or disabled people. Food stamp benefits cannot be exchanged for cash. The chart below shows the highest gross income a household can have in a month and still receive food stamp benefits.
Gross income is the total monthly income from all sources before any deductions.
Some people who receive food stamp benefits will only get three months of benefits in a 36-month period unless they meet the work requirement. The number of hours that must be worked is based on the amount of food stamp benefits received. Perform volunteer community work at community agencies, churches or other similar organizations. The number of hours that must be worked is based on the amount of food stamp benefits received. If the work requirement is not met, an individual can receive food stamp benefits only for three months in a 36-month period.