Mississippi SNAP benefits range from $25 to $306 a month for one person and up to $1,023 a month for a household of four, based on the federal allotment table in effect from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Benefits load onto a Mississippi EBT card on a day between the 4th and the 21st of each month, set by the last two digits of your case number. The card buys groceries: fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereal, snack foods, and seeds or plants that grow food. It does not buy hot prepared food, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, or any non-food item. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) runs the program, and applications go through the Mississippi ACCESS portal at access.ms.gov.
Mississippi SNAP Benefit Amounts by Household Size
The maximum monthly allotment is what a household with no countable net income receives. Almost nobody gets the maximum, because any net income reduces the benefit by 30 cents on the dollar. These are the federal fiscal year 2027 figures, which apply in Mississippi from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | +$225 |
Eligible one and two person households receive a minimum of $25 a month even if the calculation comes out lower. Households of three or more that calculate down to zero receive nothing.
How the Monthly Amount Is Calculated
MDHS starts with your gross monthly income, subtracts the deductions you qualify for to get net income, then subtracts 30% of net income from the maximum allotment for your household size.
The deductions that apply in fiscal year 2027:
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|
| Standard deduction, households 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 wages and self-employment income |
| Excess shelter deduction cap | $769 (no cap if a household member is 60 or older or disabled) |
| Medical expense deduction | Costs above $35 a month, only for members 60 or older or disabled |
| Dependent care | Actual cost of care needed for work, training, or school |
The shelter deduction covers rent or mortgage plus utilities that run above half of your income after the other deductions. Internet service no longer counts toward the shelter or utility deduction anywhere in the country, a change that took effect July 4, 2025.
Three Worked Examples
| Household | Income and costs | Estimated monthly benefit |
|---|
| 1 adult | $1,200 wages, $700 rent and utilities | About $181 |
| 2 adults, 1 child | $2,500 wages, $900 rent and utilities | About $275 |
| 2 adults, 2 children | $3,000 wages, $1,000 rent and utilities | About $371 |
These are estimates using the standard and earned income deductions. Your actual amount depends on verified income, shelter costs, dependent care, and medical expenses. MDHS makes the final determination.
What Mississippi SNAP Covers
Coverage is set federally and is the same in Mississippi as in every other state.
| Covered with your EBT card | Not covered |
|---|
| Fruits and vegetables, fresh, frozen, or canned | Hot foods prepared for immediate eating |
| Meat, poultry, and fish | Alcohol and tobacco |
| Dairy products | Vitamins, minerals, and supplements (anything with a Supplement Facts label) |
| Breads, cereals, rice, and pasta | Pet food |
| Snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks | Soap, paper products, diapers, and household supplies |
| Seeds and plants that produce food for your household | Medicine, cosmetics, and over-the-counter products |
| Baby formula and baby food | Restaurant meals and deli items sold hot |
The hot food rule trips people up most often. A rotisserie chicken sold hot at the counter is not SNAP eligible, while the same chicken sold cold or frozen in the refrigerated case is. Mississippi does not operate a Restaurant Meals Program, so prepared restaurant meals are not an option here.
Online and Out-of-State Purchases Are Blocked by Default
Since June 11, 2026, Mississippi EBT cards block online purchases and out-of-state purchases by default as an anti-fraud measure. That includes online grocery orders, delivery, and curbside pickup ordered online. If you want to shop online with your benefits or use the card while traveling, you have to turn those settings on yourself through the ConnectEBT app or the ConnectEBT website. The app also shows your balance and lets you change your PIN.
For balance questions, a lost or stolen card, or a damaged card, call EBT cardholder services at 1-866-512-5087. A replacement card is mailed and typically arrives within about five business days, and your existing PIN carries over.
Mississippi SNAP Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2027
Mississippi does not use broad-based categorical eligibility, so households here have to pass both income tests rather than just the gross test. Limits are built from the 2026 federal poverty guidelines and hold steady through September 30, 2027.
| Household size | Gross monthly limit (130% FPL) | Net monthly limit (100% FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 |
| Each additional person | +$616 | +$474 |
Households where all members are 60 or older or receive disability benefits skip the gross income test and only have to meet the net test.
Asset Limits Apply in Mississippi
Because Mississippi has not dropped the resource test, countable assets matter here in a way they do not in most states. The federal limits for fiscal year 2027 are $3,000 for most households and $4,750 for a household that includes someone 60 or older or someone with a disability. Cash and money in checking and savings accounts count. The home you live in, household goods, and most retirement accounts do not. Vehicle rules are handled case by case, so list every vehicle on the application and let your caseworker apply the exclusions rather than guessing.
Work Requirements That Affect How Long Benefits Last
Two separate rules apply. General work requirements cover most adults 16 through 59 and mean you cannot quit a job without good cause or refuse a suitable job offer.
The time limit is the bigger issue. Since July 4, 2025, adults 18 through 64 with no child under 14 in the household can usually receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 36 month period unless they work or train at least 20 hours a week, receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for an exemption. Mississippi has no statewide waiver and no area waivers as of October 1, 2026, so the time limit applies across the state.
Exemptions include pregnancy, a documented physical or mental limitation that prevents work, caring for a child under 14 or an incapacitated person, and participation in an approved work program. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are no longer automatically exempt, which is a change from pre-2025 rules. If a limitation keeps you from working, say so at your interview and ask that it be documented.
MDHS runs SNAP Employment and Training, including Skills2Work, and hours in an approved activity count toward the requirement.
How to Apply for SNAP in Mississippi
- Apply online at access.ms.gov. Create an account on the Mississippi ACCESS portal, complete the application, and submit it. You can also use the myMDHS mobile app on Android or iOS, which lets you photograph documents with your phone camera.
- Or apply in person. Every county has an MDHS office that accepts paper applications. Call 1-800-948-3050 to find yours.
- Submit it even if documents are missing. MDHS states that you do not need to finish a pre-screen or collect documents before applying. Your application date sets when benefits start, so file first and send verification after.
- Watch for your interview notice. MDHS reviews the application and schedules an interview if one is required. Notices come by mail or email. Missing the interview is the most common reason an otherwise eligible case is denied.
- Upload verification. Documents go through the portal, the myMDHS app, or the MDHS document upload site at ea-upload.mdhs.ms.gov. Expect to provide identity, Mississippi residency, income, resources, Social Security numbers, and shelter and utility costs.
- Get a decision within 30 days. Standard applications are processed no later than 30 calendar days from the date MDHS receives them. Expedited cases are decided within 7 calendar days.
- Activate your EBT card and set a PIN. Benefits post on your assigned day each month once approved.
Expedited service is for households in immediate need: less than $150 in monthly gross income with $100 or less in liquid resources, households whose rent and utilities exceed their income plus liquid resources, and certain migrant or seasonal farmworker households.
Mississippi EBT Deposit Dates
Benefits are available the same day every month, including weekends and holidays, based on the last two digits of your case number.
| Last two digits of case number | Deposit day |
|---|
| 00 to 04 | 4th |
| 05 to 10 | 5th |
| 11 to 16 | 6th |
| 17 to 22 | 7th |
| 23 to 28 | 8th |
| 29 to 34 | 9th |
| 35 to 40 | 10th |
| 41 to 46 | 11th |
| 47 to 52 | 12th |
| 53 to 58 | 13th |
| 59 to 64 | 14th |
| 65 to 69 | 15th |
| 70 to 74 | 16th |
| 75 to 79 | 17th |
| 80 to 84 | 18th |
| 85 to 89 | 19th |
| 90 to 94 | 20th |
| 95 to 99 | 21st |
Unused benefits roll over to the next month. Accounts with no activity for a long stretch can be closed out, so use the card periodically.
Keeping Benefits Active
Report changes in income, household size, or employment within 10 days. Certification periods are set when your case is approved, and MDHS sends a recertification packet before the period ends. Returning that packet late is the second most common reason households lose benefits that they still qualify for.
Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so a working adult who qualifies for SNAP here may still have no Medicaid pathway. Adults under 100% of the poverty line in a non-expansion state also cannot get a Marketplace premium tax credit. More on the programs available in the state is on our Mississippi benefits page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the maximum SNAP benefit in Mississippi?
For October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027: $306 a month for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three, $1,023 for four, and $225 more for each person beyond eight. Most households receive less, because the benefit drops by 30% of net income.
What is the lowest SNAP amount in Mississippi?
$25 a month, and the minimum only applies to eligible one and two person households. A household of three or more whose calculation comes to zero is not eligible.
Can I buy hot food with my Mississippi EBT card?
No. Hot foods prepared for immediate eating are excluded everywhere, and Mississippi does not run a Restaurant Meals Program. The same item sold cold or frozen is eligible.
Why can I not use my EBT card online?
Mississippi blocked online and out-of-state purchases by default on June 11, 2026 to cut down on card theft. Turn the settings back on yourself in the ConnectEBT app or on the ConnectEBT website.
Does Mississippi count my car against the asset limit?
Mississippi still applies a resource test of $3,000, or $4,750 if a household member is 60 or older or disabled. Vehicle exclusions exist but are applied case by case, so list all vehicles and let the caseworker decide rather than assuming your car disqualifies you.
How long does a Mississippi SNAP application take?
Up to 30 calendar days for a standard application, and no more than 7 calendar days for an expedited one. The clock starts the day MDHS receives the application, which is why you should file before gathering documents.
Can I get SNAP in Mississippi if I am single with no children?
Yes, though adults 18 through 64 with no child under 14 in the household are usually limited to 3 months in 36 unless they work or train 20 hours a week or qualify for an exemption. Mississippi has no waiver from this rule.
Do SSI payments count as income for Mississippi SNAP?
Yes. SSI counts as unearned income for SNAP. Households where everyone is 60 or older or disabled skip the gross income test and are measured only against the net limit, and they can deduct medical costs above $35 a month.
What phone number do I call about my Mississippi SNAP case?
MDHS Economic Assistance client services at 1-800-948-3050 for case, application, and eligibility questions. For balance, PIN, or card replacement, call EBT cardholder services at 1-866-512-5087.
