South Carolina pays SNAP benefits onto an EBT card issued through the Department of Social Services (DSS), and for federal fiscal year 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum monthly allotment runs from $306 for one person to $1,841 for eight. Most households get less than the maximum, because the amount is calculated from net income after deductions rather than assigned as a flat figure. South Carolina also has two things no other state's guide will tell you about: the Healthy Bucks produce incentive, which turns $5 of SNAP produce spending into $15 more, and the Healthy Food SC demonstration project, which is scheduled to remove candy and most sweetened drinks from the eligible food list starting November 1, 2026.
This guide covers what happens after approval. If you still need to confirm you qualify, see our South Carolina SNAP eligibility guide and the South Carolina SNAP income limits page.
FY2027 Maximum Monthly SNAP Allotments in South Carolina
These are the federal maximums set by the US Department of Agriculture for the 48 contiguous states and DC. South Carolina uses this table with no state supplement.
| 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 | +$225 |
The figures took effect October 1, 2026 and hold until September 30, 2027. Any chart still showing $298 for one person or $994 for four is quoting FY2026 and is out of date.
Eligible households of one or two people receive at least $25 a month, the federal minimum benefit, even when the calculation would produce less. There is no minimum for households of three or more: a larger household whose benefit computes to zero simply does not receive SNAP that month.
How South Carolina DSS Calculates Your Monthly Benefit
The formula is federal and the same in every state. DSS starts with gross monthly income, subtracts the allowable deductions to reach net income, then subtracts 30% of that net income from the maximum allotment for your household size.
| Deduction | FY2027 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 gross earned income |
| 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 needed for work or training | Actual cost, no cap |
Two details matter in practice. The excess shelter deduction only kicks in when rent, mortgage, and utility costs exceed half of income remaining after the other deductions, and the $769 ceiling does not apply to a household that includes a member age 60 or older or a member with a disability. Those households can deduct shelter costs above the threshold with no cap at all, which is often the single largest factor in a senior household's allotment.
The second detail is newer and catches people off guard: home internet costs are no longer deductible. Internet service was removed from the shelter and utility deduction effective July 4, 2025, so a bill that used to help your allotment no longer counts at all.
A worked example for a household of three with $1,700 in monthly earned income and $850 in rent plus utilities: the 20% earned income deduction ($340) and the $217 standard deduction leave $1,143 in adjusted income. Shelter costs above half of that give an excess shelter deduction of roughly $278, for net income near $865. Thirty percent of $865 is about $260, so the benefit lands near $548 against the $808 maximum. Your actual award depends on the income and expenses documented in your case file, so treat any example as illustrative.
Because South Carolina uses broad-based categorical eligibility with a 130% gross income limit and no asset test, savings, a car, or money in the bank do not reduce your allotment. The benefit is calculated from income only.
When Benefits Load and How Long the Amount Holds
South Carolina staggers EBT deposits between the 2nd and the 19th of each month based on the last digit of your SNAP case number, not your Social Security number. Your date does not move month to month and the state does not shift it for weekends or holidays. The full calendar is in our South Carolina EBT deposit schedule guide.
Your allotment stays fixed for the length of your certification period, typically 6 to 12 months, unless you report a change DSS must act on, such as a raise, a job loss, or someone joining or leaving the household. The federal maximum allotment table itself only changes once a year, on October 1.
What Your South Carolina EBT Card Buys
SNAP covers food intended to be prepared and eaten at home:
- Breads, cereals, rice, pasta, and other grains
- Fruits and vegetables, fresh, frozen, canned, or dried
- Meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish
- Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy
- Infant formula and baby food
- Bakery items and frozen prepared meals
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat
There is no rule against buying steak, seafood, or bakery items with SNAP. Through October 31, 2026, candy, snack foods, and soft drinks are also eligible purchases statewide. That changes on November 1.
Healthy Food SC: What Changes November 1, 2026
South Carolina received USDA approval in December 2025 to run a food-restriction demonstration called Healthy Food SC, and the waiver was modified in August 2026. The project was originally set to begin August 31, 2026. The Food and Nutrition Administration asked DSS to postpone it so the agency could publish a notice in the Federal Register and review public comments first. That notice was published September 15, 2026 with a comment deadline of October 15, 2026, and the project's stated start date is now November 1, 2026.
Under the project, these items come off the SNAP eligible list in South Carolina:
| Category | Restricted Under Healthy Food SC | Still Eligible |
|---|
| Carbonated soft drinks | More than 5 grams of sugar per serving | Diet and zero-sugar sodas, carbonated water |
| Other sweetened beverages | Lemonade, sweet tea, sugared bottled coffee drinks | Unsweetened coffee and tea, milk-based drinks, juice that is at least 50% natural juice with no added sweeteners |
| Energy drinks | Products marketed for energy with at least 65 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces | Sports drinks, medical nutrition drinks |
| Candy | Sugar, honey, or sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, or nuts | Protein bars, granola bars, baking ingredients, bakery items |
Everything else stays eligible: fruits, vegetables, meat and other proteins, dairy, grains, infant formula, and frozen meals.
Two cautions. On June 22, 2026, a federal court vacated similar restrictions in five other states, and the Justice Department filed a notice of appeal on August 20, 2026. South Carolina's project was not part of that case, but the November 1 date has already moved once and could move again. Check dss.sc.gov before assuming the rules at the register. And this restricts what SNAP pays for, not what you can buy: a restricted item can still be bought with cash or another card in the same transaction.
Restaurant Meals: Not Available in South Carolina
South Carolina does not participate in the federal Restaurant Meals Program, the option that lets some states allow elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP recipients to buy prepared meals at approved restaurants. Nine states run it; South Carolina is not among them. Hot foods and food meant to be eaten in the store cannot be bought with a South Carolina EBT card, and that applies regardless of age or disability. A 2026 South Carolina Senate subcommittee removed restaurant-meals language from a bill mirroring the SNAP waiver, so nothing has changed on this front.
SNAP also cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or supplements, over-the-counter or prescription medicine, pet food, paper products, cleaning supplies, diapers, or hygiene and cosmetic items.
Healthy Bucks: $5 of Produce Becomes $20
Healthy Bucks is South Carolina's own produce incentive and it is one of the better deals in the country. Spend at least $5 of your SNAP benefits on fresh produce at an approved Healthy Bucks vendor and you receive $15 in Healthy Bucks tokens to spend on more fresh fruits and vegetables. That turns $5 of your allotment into $20 of produce.
How it works:
- No separate application. Use your EBT card at a participating market or store and ask for your tokens at the point of sale or the market's information table.
- Tokens are good for fresh fruits and vegetables only, and can be used the same day or saved for a later visit to any participating vendor.
- The program runs year round, though individual farmers and farmers markets are seasonal.
- Participating vendors cover most South Carolina counties. Check the Healthy Bucks Vendor Directory at dss.sc.gov before you drive, since locations and hours change by season. DSS lists healthy-bucks@dss.sc.gov as the program contact.
Lost or Stolen Card, and Spoiled Food
Call EBT customer service at 1-800-554-5268, the number on the back of the card, to report a lost, stolen, or damaged card and request a replacement. The line runs 24 hours a day and also handles balance checks, transaction history, and PIN changes. South Carolina cardholders can manage the account online at connectebt.com.
Be clear-eyed about what reporting can and cannot recover. A lost or damaged card gets replaced. Benefits already drained off the card usually do not: the federal authorization that let states replace SNAP benefits stolen through card skimming or cloning expired December 20, 2024 and Congress did not renew it. Freezing the card quickly is the protection that still works, so report any transaction you did not make immediately. DSS also offers geographic and out-of-state transaction blocking, which cardholders can turn on to limit where the card works.
Food destroyed in a household misfortune is a separate matter. If food bought with SNAP is lost to a power outage, fire, or flood, federal rules let the state replace the value of the lost food if you report it to DSS within 10 days of the event. Call the DSS Connect Call Center at 1-800-616-1309 and ask for a replacement affidavit.
Your EBT card does not expire and unused benefits carry over month to month, but federal rules remove benefits from an account after 274 days of no card activity, so use the card at least occasionally even if you are not spending the full balance.
Summer EBT: South Carolina Does Not Participate
South Carolina has not opted into Summer EBT, also called SUN Bucks, which provides roughly $120 per eligible school-age child for summer groceries in participating states. The state has declined each year since the program launched in 2024, including summer 2026. States must notify USDA by January 1 of their intent to participate the following summer. Monthly SNAP continues year round regardless, and SUN Meals sites run through schools and community organizations still serve free summer meals to children in many South Carolina communities.
The Work Rule That Can End Your Benefits After Three Months
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 any 36-month period unless they work, train, or volunteer at least 20 hours a week (about 80 hours a month), receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for another exemption. Pregnant women remain exempt. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are no longer exempt.
South Carolina has no ABAWD waiver, so the time limit applies in all 46 counties. A waiver now requires local unemployment above 10%, and no South Carolina county is close to that. Our South Carolina ABAWD waiver status guide covers the exemptions and what to do if DSS sends you a time-limit notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in South Carolina for a family of 4?
For FY2027, October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum is $1,023 a month for a household of four. Most households receive less, because the benefit equals the maximum minus 30% of net monthly income after deductions.
Can I still buy soda and candy with SNAP in South Carolina?
Through October 31, 2026, yes. Starting November 1, 2026, the Healthy Food SC demonstration project is scheduled to remove candy, energy drinks, soft drinks with more than 5 grams of sugar, and other sweetened beverages from the SNAP eligible list in South Carolina. Diet and zero-sugar sodas, sports drinks, carbonated water, and unsweetened coffee and tea stay eligible. The start date has already been delayed once, so confirm at dss.sc.gov.
How does South Carolina's Healthy Bucks program work?
Spend at least $5 of your SNAP benefits on fresh produce at an approved Healthy Bucks vendor and you get $15 in tokens for more fresh fruits and vegetables. There is no application; ask at the market's information table or point of sale. Find participating vendors through the Healthy Bucks Vendor Directory at dss.sc.gov.
Can I use my South Carolina EBT card at restaurants?
No. South Carolina does not participate in the Restaurant Meals Program, so hot and prepared foods cannot be bought with SNAP in the state, including by elderly, disabled, or homeless cardholders.
Can I order groceries online with my SC EBT card?
Yes. South Carolina participates in USDA's SNAP online purchasing program. Walmart, Amazon, and Publix accept EBT for online orders in South Carolina, and Instacart accepts EBT at partner stores including ALDI, Food Lion, and Publix. SNAP pays for the food only. Delivery, service, and tip charges must be paid with a different method.
What is the minimum SNAP benefit in South Carolina?
Eligible one and two person households receive at least $25 a month. There is no minimum for households of three or more, which receive nothing if the calculation produces zero.
Does South Carolina count my savings or my car for SNAP?
No. South Carolina uses broad-based categorical eligibility with a 130% gross income limit and no asset test, so bank accounts, vehicles, and savings do not affect eligibility or the benefit amount.
Can I get back SNAP benefits that were stolen from my card?
Usually not. Federal authority to replace benefits stolen by card skimming expired December 20, 2024 and was not renewed. Call 1-800-554-5268 immediately to freeze the card and stop further losses, and consider turning on out-of-state and geographic transaction blocking through DSS.
Does South Carolina have Summer EBT or SUN Bucks?
No. South Carolina has not participated since the program began in 2024 and did not participate in summer 2026. Monthly SNAP continues through the summer, and SUN Meals sites in many communities serve free meals to children.
For more on South Carolina assistance programs, see our South Carolina state guide.
