Do you want to apply for food stamps in Tennessee, but need help finding out if your income is eligible? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about the TN Food Stamp Income Limit for 2022.
The Tennessee food stamps income guidelines will determine if you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamp benefits.
It’s no secret that there are very strict Tennessee food stamp requirements. Before you can apply for the food assistance in Tennessee, you have to make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. This will ensure that you are approved and your Tennessee SNAP application is filed correctly.
In this article, we will provide you with the TN Food Stamps Income Limit for fiscal year 2022.
In addition, we will also cover:
- Tennessee SNAP Income Limit for 2022
- Food Stamps Allowable Deductions
- TN Food Stamps Standard Deduction
- Gross and Net Income Calculator for TN SNAP EBT
- How much you’ll get in Tennessee Food Stamps
- How to Apply for Tennessee Food Stamps
To learn more about the TN food stamp income limit and eligibility requirements, continue reading below.
Tennessee Food Stamps Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, is a federally funded program by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The program helps limited-income households buy the food they need for good health and nutrition.
Each state is responsible for the distributing and managing their own food assistance program.
In Tennessee, the Food Stamps Program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS).
Each month, SNAP food benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card, also known as the Tennessee Benefit Security Card.
The Tennessee EBT Card can be used just like a regular debit card to make purchases for eligible food items at approved SNAP store locations.
Households approved for the Tennessee food stamps can receive over $1,500 in benefits each month (depending in your income and household size).
To find out if you qualify for the Tennessee Food Stamps Program, continue reading below.
TN Food Stamps Income Limit
The TN food stamps income limit is the biggest factor in deciding whether your Tennessee SNAP application will be approved or not.
In order to use the SNAP income limit chart, you must first calculate your total monthly gross income for your household.
Your total gross income is compared to a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL) to determine if you qualify for Tennessee food stamps.
Once you know your household’s total gross income, expenses like childcare, medical expenses and housing costs are subtracted to calculate your total net income.
Your household’s total net income is used to determine how much you will receive in TN SNAP benefits each month.
Now that you know it works, you can use the Tennessee Food Stamp Income Limits Chart to determine if your household qualifies for food assistance benefits.
In addition, we will walk you through the steps to successfully calculate your gross and net monthly income including standard and allowable deductions for your household.
Tennessee Food Stamp Income Guidelines for 2022
The Tennessee SNAP Income Chart provided below shows both the gross monthly income and net monthly income based on your household size.
Tennessee SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2022 |
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Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 |
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Household Size | Gross Monthly Income (130% of FPL) | Net Monthly Income (100% of FPL) |
1 | $1,396 | $1,074 |
2 | $1,888 | $1,452 |
3 | $2,379 | $1,830 |
4 | $2,871 | $2,209 |
5 | $3,363 | $2,587 |
6 | $3,855 | $2,965 |
7 | $4,347 | $3,344 |
8 | $4,838 | $3,722 |
Each Additional Household Member: | +$492 | +$379 |
Tennessee SNAP Net Income Limit for 2022
With a few exceptions, all households applying for food stamps in Tennessee also have to meet the net monthly income limit.
To calculate your net monthly income, you have to subtract any eligible allowable deductions from your monthly gross income.
For help, use the list of allowable deductions provided below.
SNAP EBT Allowable Deductions
The expenses that can be deducted from your gross income include:
- 20% deduction from Earned Income
- Standard deduction of $177 for households with 1 to 3 people and $184 for households with 4 or more people (see chart below)
- Dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education
- A deduction for elderly or disabled members medical expenses that exceed $35 a month (if not paid by insurance or someone else)
- Any legally owed child support payments can be deducted
- Homeless Household’s shelter costs deduction of $159.73.
- A deduction for excess shelter costs that exceed more than half of the household’s income (after the other deductions listed above & cannot exceed $597 unless a household member is elderly or disabled).
Tennessee SNAP Standard Deduction Amount
When determining your eligibility for Tennessee food stamp benefits, you will subtract a standard deduction from your total household income. The standard deduction amount is based on two factors – your household size and location.
To find out how much your standard deduction will be, use the SNAP Standard Deduction Chart for fiscal year 2022 provided below:
Tennessee SNAP Standard Deductions for Fiscal Year 2022 | |
Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
Household Size | Standard Deduction |
1-2 | $177 |
3 | $177 |
4 | $184 |
5 | $215 |
6+ | +$246 |
How to Calculate Gross Income
If you are struggling to figure out your household’s gross income, the chart below will provide you an example on how to get from a gross income calculation.
Once you have your monthly gross income, you can use this number to calculate your monthly net income. Your monthly net income will determine your eligibility for food stamp benefits in Tennessee.
How to Calculate Gross Income for Tennessee Food Stamps | |
Gross Income Calculation: | Example: |
Determine household size . . . | 4 people with no elderly or disabled members. |
Add gross monthly income . . . | $1,500 earned income + $550 social security = $2,050 gross income. |
If gross monthly income is less than the limit for household size, determine net income. | $2,050 is less than the $2,871 allowed for a 4-person household, so determine net income. |
How to Calculate Net Income
Now that you have your household’s monthly gross income, you can use that number to calculate your net income. Use the chart below to calculate your monthly net income and determine if your household is eligible for Tennessee SNAP EBT benefits.
Please note that there may be exceptions to the net income calculation. These exceptions apply to household members that are elderly or disabled. For more information or immediate help call your local Tennessee office.
How to Calculate Net Income for Tennessee Food Stamps | |
Net Income Calculation: | Example for a 4-person household: |
Subtract 20% earned income deduction… | $2,050 gross income
$1,500 earned income x 20% = $300. $2,050 – $300 = $1,750 |
Subtract standard deduction… | $1,750 – $184 standard deduction for a 4-person household = $1,566 |
Subtract dependent care deduction… | $1,569 – $362 dependent care = $1,204 |
Subtract child support deduction… | $0 |
Subtract medical costs over $35 for elderly and disabled… | $0 |
Excess shelter deduction… | See below |
Determine half of adjusted income… | $1,204 adjusted income/2 = $602 |
Determine if shelter costs are more than half of adjusted income… | $700 total shelter – $602 (half of income) = $98 excess shelter cost |
Subtract excess amount, but not more than the limit, from adjusted income… | $1,204 – $98 = $1,106 net monthly income |
Apply the net income test… | Since $1,106 is less than $2,209 allowed for a 4-person household, this household has met the income test. |
Excess Shelter Deduction for SNAP EBT
The excess shelter deduction when calculating your household’s monthly net income applies to shelter costs that are more than half of the household’s income after other deductions.
Allowable shelter costs include:
- Fuel for heating and cooking
- Electricity
- Water
- Cost for one telephone
- Rent or mortgage payments (and interest)
- Homeowners taxes
- Some states allow a set amount for utility costs instead of actual costs.
Maximum Shelter Deduction for Tennessee SNAP Benefits
The amount of the shelter deduction is capped at $597 unless one person in the household is elderly or disabled.
For a household with an elderly or disabled member all shelter costs over half of the household’s income may be deducted.
For more help determining if you are eligible to receive Tennessee food stamps, check out our complete Tennessee SNAP Eligibility Guide.
How much Food Stamps will I get in Tennessee?
You must meet all eligibility requirements including the TN Food Stamps Income Limit, in order to be approved for benefits.
The amount of money you will get each month depends on your household size.
See the chart below for the maximum amount you may get based on the number of people in your household.
Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Tennessee | |
Effective October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022 | |
Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
1 | $250 |
2 | $459 |
3 | $658 |
4 | $835 |
5 | $992 |
6 | $1,190 |
7 | $1,316 |
8 | $1,504 |
Each Additional Household Member: | +$188 |
To find exactly how much you can expect to receive in Tennessee SNAP benefits on the Benefit Security Card each month, read our complete Food Stamps Calculator in Tennessee for 2022.
Now that you know the income requirements for Tennessee food stamps, if you want to apply for SNAP benefits, continue reading below.
We will provide you with detailed on how to apply for Tennessee food stamps.
How to Apply for Tennessee Food Stamps
There are four ways you can apply for food stamps in Tennessee – online, in-person, by mail or via phone. Before we go through each of the four ways to apply for TN food stamps, let’s review what you will need to apply. It’s important that you gather all the necessary documents prior to applying for Tennessee food stamp benefits.
Here is a list of information and documentation you will need to complete your Tennessee SNAP Application:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of Birth (DOB)
- Income information such as job, child support or any other sources
- Resource or asset information such bank accounts (checking, savings accounts), vehicles, homes, land or life insurance
- Housing expenses such as rent or utilities
- Health Insurance information
Once you have gathered this information, you can now begin the Tennessee Food Stamps application process.
Tennessee SNAP Application Instructions
Here are the four ways you can apply for Tennessee food stamps:
Option 1: Online via ONE DHS
The first option is to apply online using the Tennessee online portal, ONE DHS. You can access the Tennessee website by visiting www.onedhs.tn.gov.
If this is your first time using ONE DHS, you will first have to create an online account.
Creating a ONE DHS account is quick, easy, and should only take a few minutes.
Once you have created your account, you can apply for food stamp benefits online by submitting your TN SNAP Application.
Option 2: In-Person at TN DHS Office
The next way to apply for food stamps in Tennessee is in-person at your local county Department of Human Services (DHS) office.
Click here for a full list of Tennessee DHS Office locations.
Option 3: By Phone
If you do not have access to a computer or transportation, you can also submit your TN SNAP Application by phone.
To apply for Tennessee food stamps by phone, please call 866-311-4287 or for TTY dial 7-1-1 in your phone.
You will be walked through the steps on how to apply for benefits by phone.
Option 4: By Mail
The last option for completing your Tennessee SNAP Application is by mail. In order to complete your application by mail, you must download the Tennessee SNAP Application online.
To apply for Tennessee food stamps by mail, click here to download the Tennessee Food Stamps Application.
Once completed, you can upload your Tennessee SNAP Application online or mail the completed application to the Family Assistance Department of Human Services.
Click here to upload your Tennessee SNAP Application online.
To submit your Tennessee Food Stamps Application by mail, send it to the following address:
Family Assistance Division Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 620001
Memphis, TN 38181
Be sure to include copies of any requested verification documentation with your Tennessee Food Stamps Application.
Need More Help with your TN Food Stamps Application?
For more help with your Tennessee food stamps eligibility or application, contact your local Tennessee county assistance office.
You can also call the Tennessee SNAP Family Service Center at 866-311-4287
Customer Service representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
If you are hearing impaired or deaf, please contact TTY Services by calling 711.
Emergency Food Stamps Tennessee
If you are facing a life-threatening situation and need immediate food stamp, please apply for emergency food stamps.
To apply for emergency SNAP in Tennessee, visit a TN DHS benefits office.
They will provide you with immediate help accessing food.
TN Food Stamps Income Limit Questions
We hope our post on the TN Food Stamps Income Limits for 2022 was helpful to you! If you need additional help determining your eligibility for food stamps or submitting your application for Tennessee SNAP, please let us know in the comments section below.
If you found this article helpful, we encourage you to please share it with someone using the “Share this” button below.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our other articles on Tennessee SNAP EBT:
Tennessee SNAP Eligibility Guidelines for 2022
How much will I get in Tennessee Food Stamps?
Tennessee EBT Deposit Schedule for 2022
TN Food Stamps Balance Check