Minnesota SNAP, which the state has long called Food Support, is open to households whose gross monthly income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline, which is $2,660 a month for one person and $5,500 a month for a family of four from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Minnesota has no asset test for most households. The maximum monthly benefit is $306 for one person and $1,023 for a family of four. You apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov, and the program is run by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) through county and Tribal Nation human services offices.
This guide covers who qualifies, how much the benefit is worth, what the EBT card actually pays for, and the 2025 federal law changes that now affect Minnesota households at recertification.
Minnesota SNAP Income Limits, October 2026 to September 2027
SNAP runs on the federal fiscal year, so these limits took effect October 1, 2026 and hold through September 30, 2027. They are built from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.
Minnesota uses broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE). That matters in two ways: the gross income limit is raised from the federal 130% to 200% of poverty, and a household at or under that 200% figure does not have to pass the separate net income test.
| Household size | Gross monthly income limit (200% FPL) | Net monthly income limit (100% FPL) | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $3,607 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $6,447 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $7,394 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $8,340 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $9,287 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
| Each additional | +$947 | +$473 | +$225 |
Gross income means income before taxes and payroll deductions. It counts wages, self-employment income, Social Security, SSI, unemployment, child support received, and most other cash income. Veterans' educational benefits are excluded.
Households of one or two people who qualify receive at least the minimum benefit of $25 a month, even when the math would otherwise produce less.
The Minnesota asset rule
Minnesota does not apply a countable asset test to most SNAP households, because of BBCE. A savings account, a retirement account, a home, or a car does not disqualify you on its own. The federal fallback limits, which Minnesota generally does not use for ordinary households, are $3,000, or $4,750 when someone in the household is 60 or older or has a disability.
How Minnesota Calculates Your Benefit
SNAP is not a flat amount. The state subtracts deductions from your gross income to get net income, takes 30% of that net figure, and subtracts the result from the maximum allotment for your household size.
The deductions for FY2027 are:
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|
| Standard deduction, household of 1 to 3 | $217 |
| Standard deduction, household of 4 | $229 |
| Standard deduction, household of 5 | $268 |
| Standard deduction, household of 6 or more | $308 |
| Earned income deduction | 20% of earned income |
| Excess shelter costs | Housing costs above half of adjusted income, capped at $769 |
| Dependent care | Actual cost of care needed to work, train, or attend school |
| Medical expenses, age 60+ or disabled | Costs above $35 a month |
| Child support paid out | Legally obligated amounts |
The $769 shelter cap does not apply to households that include someone 60 or older or someone with a disability. Those households can deduct their full excess shelter cost.
One change worth knowing: since July 4, 2025, internet service costs no longer count toward the shelter or utility deduction anywhere in the country, including Minnesota.
Two worked examples
Single adult in Duluth, $1,500 a month in wages, $900 rent. The 20% earned income deduction takes $300, leaving $1,200. The $217 standard deduction leaves $983. Half of $983 is $491.50, so shelter costs above that are $408.50, which is under the cap. Net income is $574.50. Thirty percent of that, rounded up, is $173. Benefit: $306 minus $173, or about $133 a month.
Family of three in Hennepin County, $2,800 a month in wages, $1,200 rent. The earned income deduction takes $560, leaving $2,240. The standard deduction leaves $2,023. Half of that is $1,011.50, so excess shelter is $188.50. Net income is $1,834.50. Thirty percent, rounded up, is $551. Benefit: $808 minus $551, or about $257 a month.
These are estimates. Your county or Tribal Nation worker makes the actual determination, and utility allowances, dependent care, and medical costs can move the number in your favor.
What Minnesota SNAP Benefits Cover
Benefits are loaded onto a Minnesota EBT card, which works like a debit card at the register.
SNAP covers:
- Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, and cereal
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household
- Groceries from authorized online retailers, including major grocery and delivery platforms that accept EBT in Minnesota
- Purchases at roughly 100 Minnesota farmers markets that accept EBT
SNAP does not cover:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins, supplements, and medicine
- Hot foods prepared for immediate eating, and most restaurant meals
- Pet food, paper products, cleaning supplies, diapers, and other household goods
Market Bucks
Minnesota runs a produce incentive called Market Bucks, administered by The Food Group with the Minnesota Department of Health and more than 100 participating farmers markets. When you spend SNAP dollars at a participating market, the program matches part of your spending on fresh produce. Match amounts and caps vary by market and by season, so ask at the market information booth before you shop.
When benefits arrive
Minnesota issues SNAP benefits between the 4th and the 13th of each month, based on the last digit of your case number. Benefits are generally available after 12:01 a.m. on your issuance date.
| Last digit of case number | Issuance day |
|---|
| 4 | 4th |
| 5 | 5th |
| 6 | 6th |
| 7 | 7th |
| 8 | 8th |
| 9 | 9th |
| 0 | 10th |
| 1 | 11th |
| 2 | 12th |
| 3 | 13th |
How to Apply for SNAP in Minnesota
Step 1: Gather what you need. Photo ID, Social Security numbers for household members who have them, proof of income such as recent pay stubs, proof of housing costs, and documentation of child care or medical expenses if you have them. Missing a document does not stop you from applying. Submit the application and send proof afterward.
Step 2: Apply. Three routes:
- Online at mnbenefits.mn.gov. This is the fastest option and takes most people under 20 minutes.
- By phone or chat through the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Support is available in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, and the staff will help you complete the application.
- On paper, delivered or mailed to your county or Tribal Nation human services office.
Step 3: Complete the interview. After you apply, your county or Tribal Nation office contacts you to schedule an interview. It can be done by phone or in person, and it covers household members, income, and housing costs. Answer the call or return the message promptly, since a missed interview is the most common reason an application stalls.
Step 4: Send in verifications. Submit any proof the worker requests by the deadline on the notice. Upload through MNbenefits, or deliver to the county office.
Step 5: Get the decision. Standard applications are decided within 30 days of the date you applied. If approved, benefits are retroactive to your application date.
Expedited benefits in 7 days
Minnesota must issue benefits within 7 days when a household qualifies for expedited service. Households generally qualify when gross monthly income is under $150 and liquid assets are under $100, when combined income and liquid assets are less than monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities, or when the household is a migrant or seasonal farmworker with little income and few assets. Say so on the application if this describes your situation.
Keeping Benefits: Reviews and Reporting
Minnesota households are generally certified for 12 months, with a Combined Six-Month Report due about halfway through. Households where everyone is elderly or disabled with no earned income may get a longer certification period.
Report changes to your county or Tribal Nation office, generally by the 10th of the month after the change, including a move, a change in who lives in the household, the start or end of a job, and large changes in income. Submitting your six-month report and your recertification on time is what keeps benefits from stopping.
The 2025 Law Changes Minnesota Households Should Know
Two federal changes took effect July 4, 2025 and reach Minnesota households when they apply or recertify.
The work rule, or time limit. Adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the household can usually receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 3-year period unless they work or train at least 20 hours a week, receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for another exemption. Pregnant women remain exempt. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are no longer exempt, which is a change from prior law. Minnesota's statewide waiver is gone. As of October 1, 2026, the state's waived areas are limited to a small number of high-unemployment places, reported as Clearwater County and three Tribal Nation reservations under an approval that runs through November 30, 2026. Ask your county worker whether your address or Tribal Nation is covered, and ask about SNAP Employment and Training, which can satisfy the hours.
Immigration status. SNAP is now 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 hold a green card no longer qualify. Many green card holders must wait 5 years first, though children under 18, people with 40 quarters of work history, people who are blind or disabled, and people with a military connection are among the exceptions. In a mixed-status household, the members who do qualify can still receive SNAP for themselves.
If immigration status is why a household member lost SNAP, ask the county about the Minnesota Food Assistance Program (MFAP), a state-funded food benefit for certain lawfully present noncitizens age 50 and older who meet SNAP's rules except the citizenship test. Income limits and deductions mirror SNAP's.
Other Minnesota Programs Worth Checking
SNAP approval often opens doors elsewhere. See the Minnesota benefits overview for details on:
- Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, the state's Medicaid and basic health programs, applied for through MNsure at 1-855-366-7873
- MFIP, the Minnesota Family Investment Program, which is the state's cash assistance program for families
- WIC, for pregnant and postpartum people and children under 5, at 1-800-657-3942
- Energy Assistance Program, for heating costs
- SUN Bucks, Minnesota's summer food benefit for school-age children
- Lifeline, a monthly discount on phone or internet service for SNAP households
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for food stamps in Minnesota in 2026?
For October 2026 through September 2027, the gross monthly income limit is $2,660 for one person, $3,607 for two, $4,554 for three, and $5,500 for a family of four, which is 200% of the federal poverty guideline under Minnesota's broad-based categorical eligibility. Add $947 per additional household member.
How much will I get in Minnesota SNAP benefits?
Maximum monthly allotments are $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three, and $1,023 for four. Most households receive less, because the benefit equals the maximum minus 30% of net income after deductions. Eligible one and two person households receive at least $25 a month.
Does Minnesota have an asset limit for SNAP?
No countable asset test applies to most Minnesota households, thanks to broad-based categorical eligibility. Savings, a home, a car, and retirement accounts do not disqualify you on their own.
How long does a Minnesota SNAP application take?
Standard applications are decided within 30 days of the application date. Households that qualify for expedited service, generally those with almost no income or whose income and liquid assets are less than their housing costs, must receive benefits within 7 days.
When does my Minnesota EBT card get loaded?
Between the 4th and the 13th of the month, set by the last digit of your case number. Digit 4 loads on the 4th, digit 0 loads on the 10th, digit 3 loads on the 13th. Funds are usually available after 12:01 a.m. on that date.
Can college students get SNAP in Minnesota?
Students aged 18 to 49 enrolled at least half time in higher education are ineligible unless they meet an exemption, such as working at least 20 hours a week, participating in a state or federal work study, caring for a young child, receiving MFIP, or having a disability. Ask your county worker which exemption applies.
Can I use my Minnesota EBT card for grocery delivery?
Yes. Minnesota SNAP recipients can buy groceries from authorized online retailers, including major grocery chains and delivery platforms that accept EBT. Delivery and service fees cannot be paid with SNAP, so you need another payment method for those.
Do I have to work to keep SNAP in Minnesota?
Adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the household usually face a 3-month limit in any 3-year period unless they work or train 20 hours a week, receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for an exemption. Minnesota's statewide waiver ended, and only a small number of high-unemployment areas and Tribal Nation reservations are currently waived, so ask your county office about your address and about SNAP Employment and Training.
What if my Minnesota SNAP application is denied?
You have the right to appeal. The denial notice explains the deadline and how to request a state appeal hearing. You can also call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151 or contact a legal aid office for free help reviewing the decision.
