Montana pays SNAP as one monthly deposit onto the Montana Access Card, and the amount depends on your household size and your net income after the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) subtracts the deductions you qualify for. The FY2027 maximum is $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for a household of four, though most Montana households receive less than the maximum. Two things change what the card buys this fall: starting November 1, 2026, Montana SNAP cannot be used for candy, high-sugar beverages, energy drinks or shelf-stable prepared desserts, under a two year federal waiver.
For whether you qualify in the first place, see Montana SNAP Eligibility 2026. For the day your money lands, see Montana EBT Deposit Schedule 2026. This page picks up after approval: the amount, the card, where it works, and the new purchase rules. Other Montana programs are listed at /states/montana.
Montana SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotments, FY2027
SNAP runs on the federal fiscal year, October 1 through September 30. The figures below are the FY2027 maximums, in force October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Montana uses the same table as the rest of the 48 contiguous states and DC. Only Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the US Virgin Islands have higher tables.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
|---|
| 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 |
A household of 18 or more receives a flat $3,887 rather than the size-8 figure plus $225 per head. At the other end, any eligible household of one or two people whose math comes out below $25 still receives the $25 minimum benefit. A household of three or more that computes to zero gets nothing that month, because the minimum does not apply at that size.
The maximum is what a household with no countable income after deductions would get. If you have wages, Social Security, unemployment or any other countable income, your deposit lands below the table figure. Keep the two FY2027 tables separate in your head: the allotment table above sets the amount, and the income limits below decide eligibility. A number from one does not belong in the other.
Montana SNAP Income Limits, FY2027
Montana is a broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) state, which DPHHS calls expanded categorical eligibility. That matters twice: the gross income cutoff sits at 200% of the poverty guideline instead of the federal 130% baseline, and Montana applies no asset test to most households. A household under the 200% gross limit is categorically eligible and does not have to pass the net income test separately, though the net figure still drives the benefit amount.
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Limit (200%) | Net Monthly Limit (100%) |
|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $3,608 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $2,750 |
| Each additional person | +$948 | +$474 |
DPHHS publishes sizes 1 through 4 plus a per-person add-on, so a household of six works out to roughly $7,396 gross. These standards are built on the 2026 poverty guidelines and hold until September 30, 2027, even after HHS publishes new guidelines in January. Households that do not fall under expanded categorical eligibility, which is a narrow group, use the federal 130% gross limit instead: $1,729 for one person, $2,345 for two, $2,960 for three and $3,575 for four.
How DPHHS Calculates Your Monthly Amount
Montana applies the same federal formula every state uses:
Monthly benefit = maximum allotment for your household size minus 30% of net monthly income
Net income is gross income minus every deduction you qualify for. The 30% represents the share SNAP expects a household to put toward its own groceries. FY2027 deduction figures:
| Deduction | FY2027 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 gross earnings |
| Excess shelter deduction cap (no elderly or disabled member) | $769 |
| Medical expense deduction (elderly or disabled members only) | Costs above $35 a month |
| Dependent care deduction | Actual cost, no cap |
The shelter deduction covers rent or mortgage plus utilities, but only the portion above half of your adjusted income, and it is capped at $769 for households with no elderly or disabled member. A household that includes someone 60 or older or someone with a disability has no cap at all on that deduction, which is the single biggest reason two Montana households with identical income end up with very different deposits. DPHHS generally applies a standard utility allowance rather than adding up individual bills, so you report that you have heating or cooling costs rather than itemizing every month.
One change that still trips people up: since July 4, 2025, internet costs no longer count toward the shelter or utility deduction anywhere in the country. If an older guide told you to report your internet bill, it is no longer deductible.
Worked example: a working parent with two children
A Billings parent earns $1,900 a month and pays $1,000 for rent and utilities. The 20% earned income deduction removes $380, and the standard deduction for a household of three removes $217, leaving adjusted income of $1,303. Half of that is $651.50, so shelter costs above that figure count: $1,000 minus $651.50 is $348.50 in excess shelter, under the $769 cap. Net income lands at about $954.50, and 30% of that rounds to $287. The maximum for three people is $808, so the benefit is roughly $521 a month.
Worked example: a senior living alone
A Missoula resident receives $1,150 a month in Social Security, pays $800 in rent and utilities, and spends $85 a month on prescriptions. Social Security is unearned income, so there is no 20% deduction. The standard deduction of $217 leaves $933. Medical costs above the $35 threshold add a $50 deduction, bringing adjusted income to $883. Half of that is $441.50, so excess shelter is $358.50, deducted in full because the household includes an elderly member. Net income is $524.50, and 30% of that rounds to $158. The maximum for one person is $306, so the benefit is roughly $148 a month.
Both examples show the shape of the math, not a determination. DPHHS runs the exact calculation on verified figures, and the notice of action it mails you is the only authoritative number.
What the Montana Access Card Covers
Your benefit loads onto the Montana Access Card, which works like a debit card at any USDA-authorized retailer. That includes Albertsons, Safeway, Walmart, Costco and Sam's Club, regional chains like Super 1 Foods, Rosauers and Town Pump locations that are authorized, tribal and rural grocers, and a growing list of farmers markets. Households that also receive TANF cash assistance carry both balances on the same plastic, tracked separately.
SNAP in Montana covers:
- Fruits and vegetables, fresh, frozen, canned or dried
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads, cereals, rice, pasta and flour
- Most non-sweetened beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food for your household to eat
SNAP never covers:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins, supplements and medicine
- Hot foods prepared for immediate eating at the store
- Pet food, paper goods, soap, diapers and other household items
- Anything that is not food, including delivery fees in some setups
You can also use the Montana Access Card for online grocery orders. EBT is accepted online by Walmart, Amazon, Albertsons, Safeway, Target, Costco, Rosauers, Super 1 Foods, Dollar General, Family Dollar and several others serving Montana addresses. SNAP pays for the food in the cart only. Delivery charges, service fees, driver tips and bag fees have to come from a debit or credit card, which is why online ordering requires a second payment method on file.
The November 1, 2026 Food Restrictions
USDA approved Montana's Healthy SNAP food restriction waiver in September 2026, making Montana one of a group of states that have narrowed what SNAP buys. The state delayed the start from September 30 to November 1, 2026, and the waiver runs for two years. Retailers got roughly 90 days to update point-of-sale systems and product files, and DPHHS has shared a product-level UPC list with stores.
Four categories come off the eligible list:
| Restricted Category | How Montana Defines It | What Stays Eligible |
|---|
| Candy | Shelf-stable preparations of sugar, honey or other sweeteners in bars, drops or pieces, including gummies and hard candy | Baking ingredients, protein bars, trail mix based mostly on nuts or fruit |
| High-sugar beverages | Drinks with more than 10 grams of sugar per 8 fluid ounces | Artificially sweetened drinks, beverages over 50% juice, milk, coffee and tea products |
| Energy drinks | More than 6 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, or 140 mg or more total caffeine plus stimulants such as taurine or guarana | Plain coffee and tea |
| Shelf-stable prepared desserts | Processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat packaged sweet foods with minimal whole-food content | Store-made bakery items |
Nothing about this changes your benefit amount, your deposit date or your eligibility. It changes only which items ring up as SNAP-eligible at the register. If a product is coded wrong at checkout, the store's product file is usually the problem, and retailers with questions are directed to HealthySNAP@mt.gov.
Practical read: the restriction is narrower than headlines suggest. Bread, milk, eggs, meat, produce, rice, beans, cereal, frozen meals, bottled water, diet soda and bakery-counter items are all untouched.
Double SNAP Dollars: Stretching the Benefit
Montana runs one of the better benefit-matching programs in the country. Double SNAP Dollars gives SNAP households a 1:1 match on fruit and vegetable purchases, up to $30 a day, at participating farmers markets, farm stands and a set of grocery stores including Albertsons locations around the state. Spend $30 in SNAP on produce and you walk out with $60 worth. The program is coordinated by a Montana nonprofit with USDA support, and participating sites are listed at doubledollarsmt.com. Market seasons vary by town, so check before driving.
How Long Benefits Last, and the Work Rule
Montana's statewide waiver of the SNAP time limit expired June 30, 2026, and the state now enforces the rule everywhere with no areas waived. Under the law in effect since July 4, 2025, adults 18 to 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 20 hours a week, receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for another exemption.
Exemptions still include pregnancy, a documented disability, being medically unfit for work, caring for an incapacitated person, and being enrolled at least half time in school or training. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness and former foster youth lost their exemptions in 2025, so an adult in one of those groups now needs either work hours or a different exemption. If you are close to the limit, ask DPHHS about SNAP employment and training, since approved training hours count. Our state-by-state ABAWD tracker covers how the rule is being applied elsewhere.
Separately, keeping your case open requires reporting changes and completing recertification. Montana households report changes through apply.mt.gov or by calling the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535. Unused benefits stay on the card for 274 days before being expunged, so there is no need to spend the full allotment before the next deposit. If your card is lost or you need a PIN reset, the EBT cardholder help desk is 1-866-850-1556.
New applicants who have not yet filed can start at apply.mt.gov. Step by step instructions are in our Montana SNAP application guide, and households with under $150 in monthly income and limited cash may qualify for expedited benefits within 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in Montana for 2026?
For FY2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum monthly allotment is $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three and $1,023 for four, rising $225 per additional person. Most households receive less, because the benefit is reduced by 30% of net income.
What can you not buy with EBT in Montana after November 1, 2026?
Starting November 1, 2026, Montana SNAP cannot be used for candy, high-sugar beverages with more than 10 grams of sugar per 8 fluid ounces, energy drinks, or shelf-stable packaged desserts. Alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, hot prepared foods and non-food household items were never eligible anywhere.
Does the November 2026 restriction reduce my Montana SNAP amount?
No. The waiver changes which products are SNAP-eligible at checkout. It does not change your allotment, your deposit date, your income limits or your eligibility.
How is my Montana SNAP amount calculated?
DPHHS starts with the maximum allotment for your household size and subtracts 30% of your net monthly income. Net income is gross income minus the standard deduction, 20% of earnings, dependent care, excess shelter costs and, for elderly or disabled households, medical costs above $35 a month.
Can I use my Montana Access Card for online grocery orders?
Yes. Walmart, Amazon, Albertsons, Safeway, Target, Costco and several regional chains accept Montana EBT online. SNAP pays for eligible food only, so delivery fees, service charges and tips need a separate card.
How does Double SNAP Dollars work in Montana?
Participating farmers markets, farm stands and some Albertsons stores match SNAP spending on fruits and vegetables dollar for dollar, up to $30 a day. Locations and seasons are listed at doubledollarsmt.com.
How long can I get SNAP in Montana if I am not working?
Adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the household are generally limited to 3 months of SNAP in 36 months unless they work or train 20 hours a week or qualify for an exemption. Montana's statewide waiver ended June 30, 2026, so the limit now applies across the state.
Do unused Montana SNAP benefits expire?
Benefits stay in the account for 274 days before being expunged. They roll over month to month during that window, so you can carry a balance forward.
