Can I Get Food Stamps While On Unemployment?

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In this community resource guide, I will answer the question of whether or not you can get food stamps while receiving unemployment benefits?

Even if you receive unemployment benefits you may still need help with basic needs like food. The reason being is unemployment benefits will be lower than the earned income you made at your past job. While the unemployment benefits are helpful, this may make it more difficult to pay for groceries for you and your family.

If you were recently laid off from your job, receiving unemployment benefits, and planning for the short-term future, you may be considering applying for this food assistance program. Should this be your situation, continue reading to learn if you can get food stamps while on unemployment.

Can You Get Food Stamps While On Unemployment?

Yes, you can get food stamps while also being on unemployment. The money you receive from unemployment is considered to be “unearned income“. Your monthly unemployment is treated the same as earned income or income from a job. The money you receive in the unemployment benefit program each month would still need to fall below the food stamp income limits of your state to qualify for food assistance.

Again, you can receive food stamps while on unemployment benefits. What will determine if you qualify for food stamps is if your unemployment benefits are lower than the monthly income limit of the SNAP program in your state.

To learn about the income limit that your unemployment benefits must fall below, you can visit the Benefits.gov website. Once there you can search your state’s SNAP program and see a table with their specific income limits.

What Are The Eligibility Requirements For Food Stamps?

The SNAP eligibility requirements for this food assistance benefits program are:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen.
Meet certain income and asset limits.

Have a social security number.
Be a resident of the state in which you apply for SNAP benefits.

Keep in mind that each state has different requirements to qualify for food stamps. The requirements above are general guidelines. The requirements that most states differ on are the allowable income limits and asset limits, so contact your state’s health department to see if you will qualify for SNAP benefits.

Can you Get Food Stamps If You Have Money In Savings?

Yes, you can get food stamps if you have money in the bank. The food stamps program defines any savings you have in the bank as “assets”. Your assets (or money in savings) will need to fall below a certain income level.

Each state has different “asset tests” that you must pass to qualify for the state food stamp program. For instance, to pass the asset test in Texas for SNAP benefits, your assets must be less than $5,000. Below are sources of income and items that are considered assets:

Asset	Description
Cash and Bank Accounts	You must have less than $5,000 in cash, a retirement account, stocks/bonds, or money in your bank account to qualify for food stamps in Texas.
Vehicles	You can own a vehicle and receive food stamps. The vehicle must have a value of less than $15,000. If you have a second vehicle, that car or truck can be no more than $4,650 in value.
Your Home	The food stamp program will not count your home as an asset, therefore you can own a home and get food stamps in Texas. If you own a second home, it will however be subjected to the asset test.

Again you can have money in savings and qualify for food stamps. The government wants to make sure that people in need are able to access food stamps, and so they allow people with money in a bank account to still be eligible for the program. Check with your specific state to learn about “allowable assets” that you can have and still get food stamps.

Can You Get Food Stamps If You Own A House?

Yes, you can own a house and get food stamps. A house is considered an asset and each state has different asset limits. In general, the home you live in is not considered an asset that the food stamp program considers, but if you have a second home, this could disqualify you.

Here is an example.

If you live in Texas, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allows you to have one home and receive food stamps. If you have a second home, then the Texas food stamp program may deny you food stamps if this second home exceeds the asset limits for SNAP benefits.

So again, you can get food stamps if you own your home. If you have two or more homes, this could disqualify you for food stamps. Be sure to speak to your state’s health and human services department to learn about asset tests that you must pass to get food stamps.

Can You Get Food Stamps If You Own A Car?

Owning a car does not disqualify you from receiving food stamps, but your car will be subject to asset limits. What this means is your car cannot be over a specific value. If you own a 2022 Lamborgini that retails at $300,000, this would disqualify you from receiving food stamps.

However, if you own a 2002 Honda Civic that is worth $2000, your car will likely pass the asset limits test and you would be able to receive food stamps.

The state you live in will determine how high the value of your car can be and you still be eligible for food stamps. In Texas, you can have one car up to $15,000 in value and even a second car that is worth no more than $4,650.

If you have questions about “does owning a car affect food stamps“, please contact your local Department of Social Services. They will be able to help you determine if you can get food stamps if you own a car in your state.

Conclusion

If you are wondering “can I get food stamps while on unemployment” the answer is yes. You can both qualify for unemployment and SNAP benefits.

The monthly unemployment that you receive will still need to fall below food stamp income limits in your state. The food stamps qualifications are nearly the same in each state, but the income limits are the one criteria that differ.

To find out if your monthly unemployment benefits qualify you for food stamps, you can contact your state’s health and human services department. You can find the food stamp program in your state by visiting this link on the Benefits.gov website.

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Nick Bryant

Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.