Free tool · Welfare
Benefits Eligibility Screener: Check 6 Programs in 30 Seconds
Quick answer
Data: 2026 federal poverty guidelines + FY2027 SNAP limits · verified 2026-10-14 against HHS poverty guidelines. Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent or stored.
How the screener works
Most federal benefit programs define their income limit as a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL), which varies by household size. For 2026, the FPL is $15,960 per year for one person, $21,640 for two, $27,320 for three, and $33,000 for four (add $5,680 per extra person). Each program sets its own cut-off:
- Medicare Savings Program QMB — 100% FPL (pays Part B premium, deductibles, copays)
- MSP SLMB — 120% FPL and MSP QI — 135% FPL (pay the Part B premium)
- SNAP — 130% gross income test, using USDA's own FY2027 table
- Free school meals — 130% FPL; reduced-price meals — 185% FPL
- Medicaid (expansion adults) — 138% FPL in the 40+ states that expanded
- WIC — 185% FPL for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under 5
The screener converts each cut-off to a monthly dollar figure for your household size and marks the programs where your income fits.
Worked example
A family of four with $3,400 gross monthly income: the 2026 FPL for four is $33,000/year, or $2,750/month, so their income is about 124% of poverty. They screen as potentially eligible for SNAP (limit $3,575), free school meals ($3,575), Medicaid expansion ($3,795), WIC ($5,088), and reduced-price meals ($5,088) — but not for QMB ($2,750) or the other Medicare Savings Programs, which top out below their income.
Common mistakes
- Entering net (take-home) pay. Every limit here is tested against gross income before taxes.
- Counting the wrong household. SNAP counts people who buy and prepare food together; WIC counts a pregnant woman as at least two people; Medicaid uses tax-filing households. When unsure, use the people who live and eat together.
- Stopping at the screen. This tool checks one dimension — income. Some programs also look at assets, age, pregnancy, or disability, and several (like CHIP) cover children at much higher incomes than the adult limits shown here.
Frequently asked questions
Which programs does this screener check?
SNAP (130% gross income test, FY2027 USDA table), WIC (185% of the federal poverty level), free school meals (130% FPL), reduced-price school meals (185% FPL), Medicare Savings Programs (QMB at 100%, SLMB at 120%, QI at 135% FPL), and Medicaid for adults in expansion states (138% FPL).
What does "may qualify" actually mean?
It means your gross monthly income is at or below that program's federal income line for your household size. It is a screen, not a determination — agencies verify income differently, some programs have asset tests, and states can set different or higher limits.
Why does SNAP use a different table than the other programs?
SNAP income limits are set by USDA per fiscal year, while WIC, school meals, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid are tied to the HHS poverty guidelines. The screener uses the correct table for each program.
What income should I enter?
Gross monthly income before taxes for everyone in your household: wages, self-employment, Social Security, SSI, unemployment, pensions, and child support received.
My income is slightly over a limit. Should I give up?
No. Many programs deduct certain expenses before comparing income to the limit (SNAP deducts housing and child care, for example), many states use higher thresholds, and WIC counts pregnant women as a larger household. Over the line on a screener is not over the line in real life — apply if you are close.
Can I get more than one of these programs at once?
Yes. SNAP and WIC stack, school meals stack with both, and Medicare Savings Programs combine with Medicaid. Qualifying for one often automatically qualifies you for another.
Official sources
- HHS poverty guidelines (ASPE) (last checked 2026-10-14)
- USDA FY2027 SNAP COLA memo (PDF) (last checked 2026-10-14)
- USDA — WIC income eligibility guidelines (last checked 2026-10-14)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs (last checked 2026-10-14)
- Medicaid.gov — eligibility (last checked 2026-10-14)
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Built and maintained by Sarah M. Jenkins, Senior Benefits Editor, Healthcare & Welfare. See our methodology and data changelog.
This tool provides estimates for general information only and is not legal, tax, or benefits advice. Final eligibility and amounts are determined solely by the administering agency. Privacy: all calculations run in your browser; we do not transmit, log, or store anything you enter.