Income U.S. Department of Agriculture Eat Smart. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made.
Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.
Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get food stamps.