Maryland calls food stamps the Food Supplement Program (FSP), and it is one of the more generous versions of SNAP in the country. Maryland uses broad-based categorical eligibility, so the gross income limit is 200% of the federal poverty level instead of the federal default of 130%, there is no asset test for most households, and state law tops up the benefit for anyone 60 or older to at least $50 a month. For the federal fiscal year that runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, a single Marylander can qualify with gross income up to $2,660 a month and a family of four up to $5,500 a month. The maximum monthly benefit is $306 for one person and $1,023 for a household of four. Applications go through myMDTHINK at mymdthink.maryland.gov.
Maryland SNAP income limits for FY2027
Maryland's higher gross limit is the most important thing to know about FSP eligibility. In a state on standard rules, a single person earning $2,000 a month is over the line. In Maryland that person is still under the limit. Because Maryland uses broad-based categorical eligibility, a household at or under the 200% gross limit is categorically eligible and does not have to separately pass the net income test (7 CFR 273.9(a)). Net income still matters, since the benefit is calculated from it, but it is not a separate pass or fail gate for most Maryland households.
Gross monthly income limits (200% FPL)
These figures use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which is the table SNAP uses for the October 2026 through September 2027 fiscal year.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit | Gross annual equivalent |
|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $3,607 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $6,447 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $7,394 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $8,340 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $9,287 | $111,440 |
| Each additional person | add $947 | add $11,360 |
Net monthly income limits (100% FPL)
Net income is what is left after the allowed deductions. These limits apply to households that are not categorically eligible, including some households with an elderly or disabled member whose gross income tops 200% of poverty.
| Household size | Net monthly income limit |
|---|
| 1 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $3,224 |
| 6 | $3,697 |
| 7 | $4,170 |
| 8 | $4,644 |
Households that include someone 60 or older, or someone with a disability, are exempt from the gross income test entirely under federal rules and are measured on net income only. That is why a retired couple with a large medical bill and high rent can sometimes qualify even when their Social Security checks look too high at first glance.
Assets
Maryland has eliminated the asset test for most Food Supplement Program households. A checking account, a modest savings balance, or a car does not disqualify you. The federal countable resource limits, which still apply in limited situations, are $3,000, or $4,750 when the household includes someone elderly or disabled.
How much Maryland SNAP pays
Benefit amounts are federal, so Maryland's maximums match the other 48 contiguous states. Your actual amount is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of net income, which is why two families of the same size can get very different checks.
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit (FY2027) |
|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | add $225 |
The federal minimum benefit is $25 a month, and it applies only to eligible one and two person households. A household of three or more whose calculation comes out at zero simply gets nothing.
The Maryland senior top-up: at least $50 a month
This is Maryland's biggest state-level addition. Under Human Services Article Section 5-501, as amended by Senate Bill 35 of 2024, a household that includes someone 60 or older and that qualifies for a federal FSP benefit below $50 a month gets a state supplement bringing the total to $50. The law took effect October 1, 2024, raising the floor from $40 to $50 and lowering the qualifying age from 62 to 60. Maryland DHS estimated it would reach roughly 30,800 households. An older Marylander who would otherwise get the $25 federal minimum receives $50 instead, and the supplement is added automatically with no separate application.
Two worked examples
A working family of three. Gross earned income $2,500 a month, rent plus utilities $1,500. Subtract the 20% earned income deduction ($500) and the $217 standard deduction, leaving $1,783. Half of that is $891.50, so the excess shelter deduction is $608.50, under the $769 cap. Net income is $1,174.50, and 30% of that is $353. The benefit is $808 minus $353, about $455 a month.
A single senior on Social Security. $1,500 a month, rent $900, pays her own utilities. No earned income deduction. After the $217 standard deduction her adjusted income is $1,283; half is $641.50, and because her household includes someone 60 or older the excess shelter deduction is not capped, so $258.50 comes off. Net income is $1,024.50, under the $1,330 limit. Thirty percent of net is $308, more than the $306 maximum for one person, so her federal benefit computes to the $25 minimum. Maryland's senior supplement raises it to $50 a month.
These are estimates. Only your local department of social services can determine your case.
Deductions Maryland allows
Getting your deductions on the record is the difference between a small benefit and a real one. Maryland FSP allows:
- A standard deduction of $217 a month for households of one to three, $229 for four, $268 for five, and $308 for six or more
- 20% of all earned income
- Child care or other dependent care costs that let you work, look for work, or attend training
- Legally obligated child support you pay out
- Excess shelter costs above half of adjusted income, capped at $769 a month, with no cap for households that include someone elderly or disabled
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses above $35 a month, for household members 60 or older or with a disability
Two recent changes matter. Internet costs no longer count toward the shelter or utility deduction, effective July 4, 2025 under P.L. 119-21. And Maryland now requires most households to prove they pay a heating or cooling bill separate from rent to claim the standard utility allowance. Households with a member 60 or older or with a disability who receive energy assistance still get it automatically. If you pay utilities and do not document it, your benefit comes out lower than it should.
Work requirements in Maryland
Federal law changed in 2025 and Maryland began applying the new rules on November 1, 2025. Adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the household can usually receive FSP for only 3 months in a 3 year period unless they meet a work requirement: 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month, of work, approved training, or volunteering.
You are generally exempt if you:
- Are under 18 or 65 or older
- Live with a child 13 or younger
- Are pregnant
- Are physically or mentally unable to work
- Are receiving unemployment compensation
- Are enrolled at least half-time in school, college, or a training program
- Are already working or earning at least $217.50 a week
- Are complying with a TANF or Temporary Cash Assistance work requirement
- Are in a drug or alcohol treatment program
- Are a member of a federally recognized tribe in a qualifying area
The 2025 law removed the automatic exemptions veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth previously had. If you are in one of those groups you may still be exempt on other grounds, such as a health condition or caring for a child, so raise it at your interview. As of October 1, 2026, area waivers from the time limit cover parts of 12 states and Maryland is not one of them; a waiver now requires local unemployment above 10%.
Immigration status
Since July 4, 2025, SNAP has been limited to U.S. citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Refugees, asylees, and parolees who do not have a green card no longer qualify. Many green card holders must wait 5 years first, with exceptions including children under 18, 40 quarters of work history, blindness or disability, and a military connection.
This applies to new applicants immediately and to existing Maryland households at their next recertification. Some DHS web pages still list the older, broader exception categories, so go by the current rule. In a mixed-status household the members who do qualify can still receive FSP, with only eligible members counted and income prorated. If no one in the home is eligible, WIC has no citizenship requirement and school meals are worth checking.
How to apply for Maryland food stamps
- Apply online through myMDTHINK. Go to mymdthink.maryland.gov or MarylandBenefits.gov, create an account, and start a new application for food assistance. The application takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The same application covers Temporary Cash Assistance, energy assistance through OHEP, and the Child Care Scholarship, so you can check more than one program at once.
- Or apply another way. You can apply in person at your local department of social services, request a paper application by phone or mail, download the DHS Application for Assistance (form 9701) and mail it in, or have an authorized representative apply for you. The statewide number is 1-800-332-6347, TTY 1-800-735-2258.
- Report your household, income, and expenses in full. Everyone who buys and prepares food with you, all income before taxes, rent or mortgage, whether you pay a separate heating or cooling bill, child care, child support you pay, and medical costs if someone in the home is 60 or older or disabled.
- Upload your documents. Photo ID, proof of income, proof of Maryland residency, Social Security numbers, and bills for the expenses you claimed, all directly in myMDTHINK.
- Complete the interview. A case manager interviews you, usually by phone, after you file. Missing it is the most common reason an otherwise eligible application stalls. If you miss the call, call your local office back the same week.
- Watch the clock. Maryland reviews applications the day they arrive to see whether you qualify for expedited service, which issues benefits within 7 days. Otherwise, benefits are available no later than 30 days from the date the office received your application.
- Use your Independence Card. Maryland issues FSP benefits on the EBT Independence Card. Benefits load on a set day each month based on your case number.
Expedited service covers households with very little income and cash on hand, housing costs higher than income and cash combined, or migrant and seasonal farmworkers. If that is you, say so on day one.
What Maryland SNAP covers, and what it does not
| Covered by the Independence Card | Not covered |
|---|
| Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, cereals | Alcohol and tobacco |
| Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages | Vitamins, supplements, medicine, anything with a Supplement Facts label |
| Seeds and plants that produce food for your household | Hot prepared foods meant to be eaten in the store |
| Online grocery orders, pickup, and delivery at participating Maryland retailers | Paper products, cleaning supplies, diapers, pet food, hygiene items |
Related Maryland food programs
- SUN Bucks (Summer EBT). Maryland issues $40 per eligible school-age child for June, July, and August, a total of $120 for the summer. Most children who receive free or reduced-price school meals, or whose household gets SNAP, TCA, or Medicaid, are enrolled automatically. Benefits expire 122 days after issuance.
- WIC. Pregnant people, new and breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children under 5 qualify at up to 185% of poverty, and FSP, Medicaid, or TCA receipt makes you automatically income-eligible. Maryland WIC: 1-800-242-4942.
- School meals. Children in households receiving FSP are directly certified for free school meals.
- Farmers market matching. Many Maryland farmers markets match FSP dollars spent on fresh produce through Maryland Market Money.
- Energy assistance. OHEP serves households up to 200% of poverty and uses the same myMDTHINK application.
For a full list of Maryland programs and limits, see our Maryland benefits guide.
Keeping your benefits
FSP certification periods typically run 6 to 12 months, and up to 24 months for households where all members are elderly or disabled with no earned income. You get a recertification notice before yours ends. Two things end benefits more often than any income change: missing the recertification interview, and not returning a requested document. Report changes in income, household size, or address through myMDTHINK instead of waiting for renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for food stamps in Maryland in 2026?
For October 2026 through September 2027, the gross monthly limit is $2,660 for one person, $3,607 for two, $4,554 for three, and $5,500 for four, plus $947 per additional person. Maryland's limit is 200% of the federal poverty level, higher than the 130% default in many states, because the state uses broad-based categorical eligibility.
How much will I get in Maryland food stamps?
The maximum is $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for four. Most households get less, because the benefit equals the maximum minus 30% of net income after deductions. Qualifying one and two person households receive at least $25, and households with a member 60 or older receive at least $50 under Maryland law.
Does Maryland have an asset limit for food stamps?
No. Maryland has eliminated the asset test for most Food Supplement Program households. Savings, a car, and a checking account generally do not affect eligibility.
How long does a Maryland SNAP application take?
Up to 30 days from the date your local office receives it. Expedited service, for households with very low income and resources, issues benefits within 7 days, and Maryland screens every application for it the day it arrives.
Can I get Maryland food stamps if I am working?
Yes. Maryland's 200% gross limit plus the 20% earned income deduction means working households with moderate wages often qualify. A single person working full time at $15 an hour, roughly $2,600 a month, is under the one person gross limit.
What is the Maryland $50 senior food benefit?
State law tops up the federal benefit so any eligible household including someone 60 or older gets at least $50 a month. It took effect October 1, 2024 under Senate Bill 35 of 2024, replacing an earlier $40 floor for people 62 and older. No separate application is needed.
Do I lose Maryland SNAP if I do not work?
Possibly, if you are 18 to 64 with no child under 14 at home and no exemption. That group is usually limited to 3 months of benefits in 3 years unless they work or train 20 hours a week. Exemptions include pregnancy, a health condition that prevents work, receiving unemployment, and attending school at least half-time. Maryland has no statewide waiver from this time limit.
Where do I apply for Maryland food stamps online?
At mymdthink.maryland.gov, also reachable as MarylandBenefits.gov. The same application covers Temporary Cash Assistance, energy assistance, and the Child Care Scholarship. For help, call 1-800-332-6347.
Can immigrants get food stamps in Maryland?
Under the 2025 federal law, only citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau qualify. Many green card holders must wait 5 years first, with exceptions for children under 18, 40 quarters of work, disability, and a military connection. Refugees, asylees, and parolees without a green card no longer qualify. In a mixed-status household, the eligible members can still receive benefits.
