The income limit is the most important food stamps (SNAP) eligibility requirement in Pennsylvania. In this post, In this post, we are going to walk you through the 2023 income limit for Pennsylvania food stamps, including how to calculate how much you will receive in SNAP benefits if approved.
Additionally, we will provide information on how to apply for food stamps in Pennsylvania.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania.
Table of Contents:
- Food Stamps in Pennsylvania
- Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Pennsylvania
- 2023 Income Limit for Pennsylvania Food Stamps
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Pennsylvania
- Food Stamps in Pennsylvania FAQs
Food Stamps in Pennsylvania
SNAP (also known as food stamps) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families in Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, the SNAP program is run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).
Once you are approved, SNAP benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, that is used as a debit card.
EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores, some farmers’ markets, convenience, big box stores, and some online stores, like Walmart and Amazon.
SNAP benefits generally cannot be used to buy prepared foods, vitamins, alcohol/tobacco, and non-food items (like soap or toothpaste).
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Pennsylvania?
To be eligible for SNAP in Pennsylvania, a household must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a citizen or legal immigrant
- Must be a Pennsylvania resident
- Your household income must be less than the food stamps income limits for your household size (see chart below)
- With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program
- For most households, resources must be under $2,750 to qualify for SNAP or $4,250 in countable resources if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled
Senior SNAP
If you are age 60 and older, you may be eligible for Senior SNAP in Pennsylvania.
Click here to access the Senior SNAP page to learn more about this program.
2023 Income Limit for Pennsylvania Food Stamps
To qualify for SNAP in Pennsylvania, your household income must not exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
You can find out if you may qualify by using the 2023/2024 table below.
Income limits vary according to household size.
Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income (income after allowable deductions) limits.
However, households that contain an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual must meet only the net income limits.
See the table below for both the net and gross income limits according to household size.
| Pennsylvania SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2024 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income (200% of FPL) |
Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $2,430 | $1,215 |
| 2 | $3,288 | $1,644 |
| 3 | $4,144 | $2,072 |
| 4 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| 5 | $5,858 | $2,929 |
| 6 | $6,714 | $3,357 |
| 7 | $7,570 | $3,785 |
| 8 | $8,428 | $4,214 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $858 | $429 |
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Pennsylvania
There are multiple ways you can apply for food stamps in Pennsylvania.
Option 1 – Apply Online
The easiest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online through the Pennsylvania COMPASS portal.
Log on to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/ and select “APPLY NOW.”
If you do not have an account, click on the “REGISTER” link for instructions on how to set up an account.
For help in creating a COMPASS account, see our post on How to Create a PA COMPASS Account.
If you are having trouble logging into your COMPASS account, see our guide on
PA COMPASS Login Help.
Option 2 – Apply by Mail or Fax an Application
To apply by mail or fax, download the SNAP application here.
Once you have completed the application, you can submit it by mail or fax.
Instructions on how to do so are included in the application.
Also, you can request an application to be mailed to you by calling 1-800-692-7462.
Option 3 – Apply in Person
If you are unable to apply online or by mail, the DHS has County Assistance Offices (CAO) statewide to assist you with the application process.
Click here to find your local office.
Food Stamps in Pennsylvania FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Food Stamps:
What is the Phone Number for Pennsylvania Food Stamps?
If you need help applying for food stamps in Pennsylvania or have further questions about how the SNAP program works, call Customer Call Center at 1-800-692-7462.
How Much Will I Receive in Pennsylvania Food Stamps?
If you are approved for food stamps in Pennsylvania, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- The total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
In Pennsylvania, the average monthly SNAP amount per person is approximately $214.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $219 |
To find out how much you are likely to get in Pennsylvania SNAP if approved, use the calculator below.
In the example provided below, we are using a family of 6 to demonstrate how to calculate your food stamps amount.
How Pennsylvania Food Stamps Calculator
Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 6 will get in SNAP benefits.
First, we need to start with the household income.
If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).
Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.
Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 6 could receive in food stamps is $1,386
The result is the monthly food stamps benefits for a family of 6.
Here’s an example:
Example: Michelle and her family of six (6) have $2,140 in net income after allowable deductions.
To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $2,140) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$2,140 Net Income for Michelle’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$642 Countable Income
$1,386 Maximum SNAP for 6 persons
-$642 Countable income (round up)
$744 Monthly SNAP benefits for Michelle’s family
When are Pennsylvania EBT benefits deposited?
Pennsylvania food stamps benefits are deposited on your PA EBT Card over the first 10 business days of every month. Your PA EBT Deposit Date varies based on the last digit of your case number.
Pennsylvania SNAP benefits are posted to EBT accounts between midnight and 6AM on your scheduled deposit day.
If your food stamps are not posted to your account by 6AM, please call the PA EBT hotline at 1-888-328-7366.
Here is the Pennsylvania SNAP EBT Deposit Schedule for 2023:
| The last digit of your Case Number ends in: | SNAP Benefits are available on the: |
| 1 | 1st business day of the month |
| 2 | 2nd business day of the month |
| 3 | 3rd business day of the month |
| 4 | 4th business day of the month |
| 5 | 5th business day of the month |
| 6 | 6th business day of the month |
| 7 | 7th business day of the month |
| 8 | 8th business day of the month |
| 9 | 9th business day of the month |
| 0 | 10th business day of the month |
How Many People are on Food Stamps in Pennsylvania?
| Number of People on Food Stamps in Pennsylvania | |||
| As of June 2023 | |||
| June 2022 | June 2023 | Change | |
| Number of People | 1,831,448 | 1,941,434 | 6.0% |
| Number of Households | 975,193 | 1,035,552 | 6.2% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $391,806,353 | $331,977,484 | -15.3% |
United States Food Stamps Statistics for October 2023:
| Number of People on Food Stamps in The United States | |||
| As of June 2023 | |||
| June 2022 | June 2023 | Change | |
| Number of People | 40,907,769 | 41,844,246 | 2.3% |
| Number of Households | 21,466,689 | 22,175,863 | 3.3% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $9,182,802,718 | $7,514,829,053 | -18.2% |
What stores accept PA EBT online for delivery?
Currently, there are 27 stores that accept Pennsylvania EBT Cards online as payment.
You can use your PA EBT Card and P-EBT benefits to purchase approved grocery items and have it delivered directly to your door.
However, your Pennsylvania SNAP benefits cannot be use to pay for delivery fees.
Currently, the following stores accept Pennsylvania food stamps and EBT Cards online:
- ACME
- Aldi
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Burkholder’s Market
- Cottman Food Market
- Dave’s Super Duper
- East End Food Coop
- Giant Company, LLC
- Giant Eagle
- Lake Region IGA
- Martin’s
- Mignosi’s Super Foodtown
- Price Chopper Supermarkets
- Price Rite
- Redner’s Markets
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- ShopRite
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Stauffers of Kissel Hill
- Target
- TheFreshGrocer
- Tops Market
- Walmart
- Wegmans
- Weis Markets
- Whole Foods
Can Students get Pennsylvania Food Stamps?
In general, Pennsylvania college students are not eligible for SNAP.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, including for PA Community College students.
Students may be eligible for Pennsylvania SNAP if they are:
- Working 20 hours a week or more;
- Receiving federal or state work-study;
- Caring for a child under age 6;
- Caring for a child under age 12 if the student is a single parent in college full time;
- “unfit for work” (that is, have a medical barrier to employment);
- Under age 18 or over age 50; or
- Enrolled less than half time.
For a detailed list of all student exceptions, refer to Chapter 514.2 of the PA DHS SNAP Manual online here.
Exception for PA Community College Students
Starting in January 2018, many community college students may be eligible for SNAP even if they don’t meet the above exceptions (if they otherwise qualify).
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has issued new guidance expanding SNAP eligibility based on community college students’ participation in programs designed to improve their employability.
For more on these guidelines, click here.
Which Community College Students are Eligible for PA SNAP?
Pennsylvania community college students may be eligible for SNAP if they are participating in either:
- Career or technical education program under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006; or
- Programs associated with high-priority occupations. Almost all community college students should be eligible (assuming they apply for SNAP and otherwise qualify).
For more details on eligibility guidelines for students and how to apply, click here.
Income Limit for Pennsylvania Food Stamps Summary
We hope this article on Income Limit for Pennsylvania Food Stamps was helpful.
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If you have additional questions about the Pennsylvania SNAP or EBT, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Pennsylvania Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Pennsylvania EBT Card Balance
- Pennsylvania EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
- Eligible Food Stamps Items
