Getting Started with SNAP Grocery Support

Each person’s card has a different amount of money attached to it based upon their personal income and family situation — up to $292 each month for a single-person household or $975 for a family of four. You will receive details when your application is approved. Each month you are enrolled in SNAP, this amount will be added to your card and can be used to purchase food. Any unused funds are available for up to one year from the date they’re added to your card.

The USDA’s 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) set the maximum SNAP benefit amounts for households in most of the country, iincluding North Carolina.

Maximum Monthly SNAP Benefit by Household Size

1 person:   $292
2 people:   $536
3 people:   $768
4 people:   $975
5 people:   $1,158
6 people:   $1,390
7 people:   $1,536
8 people:   $1,756
Each additional person may add $220

SNAP can be used for: 

- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products like milk and eggs
- Breads and cereals
- Snacks
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food
 

SNAP can't be used for:

- Alcohol or tobacco
- Live animals
- Pre-prepared hot foods
- Pet foods
- Non-edible products
 

If you are in need of food assistance beyond what SNAP provides, our FoodFinder tool is a great place to start! Our network of no-cost markets, pantries, meal sites, and delivery programs can connect you with resources that SNAP doesn’t cover — such as spices or hygiene products. (Tip: Stop by your local food assistance site first to help focus your SNAP dollars on items you can only find at a grocery store.)

You must be a resident of North Carolina and make less than a certain amount of money to qualify for SNAP benefits. The amount is based on the number of people in your household — the people you share your food purchases with. Here are some of the factors that determine eligibility and amounts.

Income: Your household income has to fall within certain limits. Both “gross income” (what you earn before taxes) and “net income” (what’s left after housing, childcare, and some other expenses are deducted) are considered. If someone in your home is over 60 or has a disability, special deductions or exceptions may apply.

Assets (money and property): Most households can have up to $3,000 in savings or other countable assets. If your household includes an older adult (60+) or a person with a disability, the limit is higher—$4,500.

Residency & Citizenship*: You must live in North Carolina. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or meet certain immigration requirements.

Work Rules*: If you’re between 18–54, don’t have children, and are able to work, you may need to meet work or job training requirements (usually about 80 hours per month). Some people are exempt from these rules, depending on their caregiving situation.

*Note that several of these rules may change in 2026 due to the passage of the 2025 federal Budget Reconciliation Act.