How Much Food Stamps Will I Get in Tennessee? Your 2025 Guide to SNAP Benefits and How to Apply

It is important to see these numbers as a starting point. While they show the potential of the program, your actual benefit amount will be determined by a specific calculation that takes your expenses into account. The following sections will explain how that calculation works and how certain deductions can help you qualify for and receive the correct amount of benefits.

Could You Be Eligible? Checking the Basic Requirements

Before looking at the financial rules, there are a few basic requirements your household must meet to be eligible for SNAP in Tennessee. These rules cover where you live, your citizenship status, and who counts as part of your household.

Residency and Citizenship

To apply for SNAP in Tennessee, you must be a resident of the state. In terms of citizenship, you must be a U.S. citizen or a “qualified alien”. This category includes refugees, asylees, and lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as green card holders. Generally, most legal immigrants must have lived in the United States for at least five years to become eligible for SNAP. However, this five-year waiting period does not apply to certain groups, including refugees, asylees, and children under the age of 18 who have a qualifying immigration status.

Social Security Number

A key requirement is that every person in the household who is applying for SNAP benefits must have a Social Security Number (SSN) or provide proof that they have applied for one.

Defining a “Household”

Understanding who TDHS considers part of your “household” is one of the most important steps in the SNAP process. A SNAP household is defined as a group of people who live together AND regularly purchase and prepare their meals together.

There are a few specific rules to keep in mind:

• Parents and Children: Parents and their children who are age 21 or younger and live together are almost always considered a single household, even if they claim to buy and prepare food separately.
• Roommates: If you live with roommates but you buy and prepare your food separately, you can apply as a household of one. Your roommates’ income would not be counted in your application.
• Spouses: Spouses who live together must apply as one household.

Correctly identifying your household size is critical because it determines the income limits you must meet and the maximum benefit you could receive.

The Key to Qualifying: Understanding Tennessee’s Income and Asset Limits

After meeting the basic requirements, TDHS will look at your household’s finances. To qualify for SNAP in Tennessee, you must pass both an income test and an asset test. This is a crucial point, as many other states have eliminated the asset test to make it easier for families to get help. Tennessee’s decision to keep this rule means that having even a modest amount of savings could prevent an otherwise eligible family from receiving food assistance. Applicants must be prepared to provide information about both their income and their resources.

Gross vs. Net Income

To understand the income limits, it is important to know the difference between two key terms:

• Gross Income: This is your household’s total income before any taxes or other deductions are taken out. It includes money from jobs, self-employment, Social Security, unemployment benefits, and child support.
• Net Income: This is the income you have left after certain allowable expenses (deductions) are subtracted from your gross income. This is the number TDHS uses to calculate your final benefit amount.

Tennessee’s SNAP Income Limits for 2025

Most households in Tennessee must meet two income limits: a gross income limit and a net income limit. However, households that include a person who is age 60 or older or has a disability have more flexible rules; they only need to meet the net income limit.

The tables below show the monthly income limits for fiscal year 2025.

Table 2: Monthly Gross Income Limits (130% of Federal Poverty Level)

This is the first test most households must pass. Your total monthly income before deductions must be at or below this amount.

Table 3: Monthly Net Income Limits (100% of Federal Poverty Level)

After applying all allowable deductions, your net income must be at or below this amount. This is the only income test for households with an elderly or disabled member.

Tennessee’s SNAP Asset Limits for 2025

In addition to the income test, Tennessee requires households to pass an asset test. Assets, or “countable resources,” are things you own that can be converted to cash, like money in a checking or savings account.

Table 4: SNAP Asset Limits in Tennessee

Importantly, many things you own are not counted toward this limit. TDHS does not count the value of:

• The home you live in and its lot.
• Household goods and personal belongings.
• Retirement accounts like an IRA or 401(k).
• Most vehicles used for family transportation or work.

How Your Benefit Amount is Calculated: The Important Role of Deductions

Understanding deductions is the key to both qualifying for SNAP and receiving the maximum benefit your household is eligible for. A household might think their gross income is too high to qualify, but after subtracting their expenses, their net income could fall below the limit. This is why it is so important to report all your expenses to TDHS during your application and interview.

The SNAP benefit calculation works with a basic formula: the maximum benefit for your household size minus 30% of your net income equals your monthly SNAP benefit. Because of this, a lower net income results in a higher SNAP benefit.

Here are the major deductions allowed in Tennessee that can lower your net income :

• 20% Earned Income Deduction: If you or someone in your household has a job, TDHS will automatically deduct 20% from those earnings. This is meant to account for work-related expenses like taxes and transportation.
• Standard Deduction: Every household gets a standard deduction to account for basic costs. For fiscal year 2025, this amount is $204 for households with 1 to 3 people.
• Dependent Care Deduction: You can deduct the costs of child care or care for a disabled adult if it is necessary for a household member to work, look for a job, or attend school or a training program.
• Child Support Deduction: If you make legally obligated child support payments to a child outside of your household, you can deduct these payments from your income.
• Medical Expense Deduction: This is a powerful but often overlooked deduction for households with members who are age 60 or older or have a disability. You can deduct any out-of-pocket medical expenses that are more than $35 per month. This can include doctor visit co-pays, prescription drug costs, transportation to appointments, and health insurance premiums. It is critical to gather and report all of these costs.
• Excess Shelter Deduction: For many families, this is the largest and most important deduction. It is designed to help with high housing costs. TDHS calculates the amount your shelter costs (including rent or mortgage, property taxes, and homeowners insurance) plus your utility costs exceed 50% of your net income (after all other deductions have been applied).
  • For most households, this deduction is capped at $712 per month in 2025.
  • For households with an elderly or disabled member, this deduction is uncapped, meaning the full amount of their excess shelter costs can be deducted. This is a significant advantage that can greatly increase their SNAP benefit.
• Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): Instead of asking you to provide every single utility bill, Tennessee uses a Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) to simplify the process. If you pay for heating or cooling costs separately from your rent, you can claim the full Heating and Cooling SUA (HCSUA), which is $439 for a one-person household in 2025 and increases with household size. There is also a $35 allowance for a telephone. Claiming these standard amounts is usually easier and more beneficial than tracking actual costs.

Work Rules for SNAP in Tennessee

To receive SNAP benefits, most adults are required to meet certain work rules. These rules are set at the federal level but are strictly enforced in Tennessee.

General Work Requirements

For most people between the ages of 16 and 59, the general work requirements include:

• Registering for work.
• Participating in a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program if assigned by TDHS.
• Accepting a suitable offer of employment.
• Not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing your work hours below 30 per week without a good reason.

Individuals who are exempt from these general requirements include those who are caring for a young child, are unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation, or are already working at least 30 hours a week.

Special Rules for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)

Tennessee has stricter work rules for a group known as “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents,” or ABAWDs. An ABAWD is someone between the ages of 18 and 54 who is physically and mentally fit to work and does not have any children under 18 in their household.

The federal government allows states to request waivers from the ABAWD time limit in areas with high unemployment or a lack of sufficient jobs. This provides a safety net for people who are trying to find work but live in an economically distressed area. Tennessee’s state leadership has chosen not to implement a statewide waiver, meaning these strict rules are enforced across all 95 counties, regardless of local job market conditions. This policy choice makes it especially important for ABAWDs in Tennessee to understand and follow the rules.

Table 5: ABAWD Rules in Tennessee at a Glance

If you fall into the ABAWD category, it is critical that you track your work or volunteer hours carefully and report them to TDHS. If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you should inform your caseworker immediately.

Special Rules for Different Households

SNAP rules are not one-size-fits-all. Certain groups, like seniors, people with disabilities, and college students, have unique rules that can make it easier for them to qualify.

Seniors (60+) and Individuals with Disabilities

The SNAP program recognizes that seniors and people with disabilities often have fixed incomes and higher medical costs. To account for this, the rules for these households are more generous:

• Higher Asset Limit: They can have up to $4,500 in countable assets, compared to $3,000 for other households.
• No Gross Income Test: They are exempt from the gross income test and only need to meet the net income limit, making it easier to qualify if they have some income.
• Full Medical Deduction: They can deduct all out-of-pocket medical expenses that total more than $35 per month. This includes co-pays, prescriptions, dental care, and even transportation to medical appointments.
• Uncapped Shelter Deduction: They are not subject to the $712 cap on the shelter deduction. This is a major advantage for those with high rent or mortgage payments.
• Exempt from Work Requirements: Seniors and individuals receiving disability benefits are not subject to the general work requirements or the ABAWD time limit.
• Separate Households: In some cases, an elderly or disabled person who lives with others (like their adult children) but buys and prepares their meals separately can apply as their own household of one.

College Students

The rules for college students can be confusing. In general, a student who is enrolled in an institution of higher education (like a college or trade school) for more than half-time is not eligible for SNAP. However, you can be eligible if you meet one of the special exemptions.

Many students who have low incomes assume they will qualify for SNAP, only to be denied because they do not meet one of these specific exemptions. The key is to check if you fall into one of the categories below.

Table 6: Can You Get SNAP as a College Student in Tennessee?

You may be eligible for SNAP if you are enrolled at least half-time and meet at least ONE of the following conditions:

One important note: if you live in a dorm and have a meal plan that covers more than half of your meals, you are not eligible for SNAP, even if you meet an exemption.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for SNAP in Tennessee

Once you have reviewed the eligibility rules, the next step is to apply. The process involves submitting an application, completing an interview, and providing documents to verify your situation.

How to Apply

You have three main options for submitting your application in Tennessee:

1. Online (Recommended): The fastest and easiest way is to apply online through the OneDHS Customer Portal. You can create an account, fill out the application, and upload your documents directly from a computer or smartphone.
2. By Mail or Fax: You can download and print a paper application from the TDHS website. After you fill it out and sign it, you can mail it, fax it, or drop it off at a local DHS office.
3. In Person: You can visit any of the 133 TDHS offices located across Tennessee’s 95 counties to pick up or drop off an application.

The Interview and Verification

After you submit your application, a TDHS caseworker will contact you to schedule a mandatory phone interview. During or after the interview, you will be asked to provide documents to verify the information on your application. Being prepared with these documents can help speed up the process.

Table 7: Checklist of Documents for Your SNAP Application

Gather these papers before your interview to make the process smoother.

Decision Timeline and Getting Help

TDHS generally has 30 days from the date you submit your application to make a decision on your case. If you are approved, your benefits will be backdated to the day you first applied.

If you need help with your application, you do not have to do it alone. Organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Justice Center have SNAP outreach teams that can provide free assistance with applying, recertifying, or answering questions about your case.

Expedited (Emergency) SNAP

If you are in a crisis situation and need food assistance immediately, you may qualify for expedited SNAP benefits, which are issued within 7 days. You may be eligible if you meet one of these conditions:

• Your household has less than $150 in gross monthly income and $100 or less in cash or savings.
• Your monthly housing costs (rent/mortgage and utilities) are more than your household’s total gross income and savings combined.
• You are a migrant or seasonal farmworker.

Using Your EBT Card

If you are approved for SNAP, you will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in the mail. Your monthly benefits will be loaded onto this card, which works just like a debit card at most grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and some online retailers. If your card is ever lost or stolen, you should call EBT Customer Service immediately at 1-888-997-9444 to get a replacement.

What’s New in 2025? Recent Changes to SNAP in Tennessee

The rules and policies surrounding SNAP are not static; they can change based on decisions made at both the federal and state levels. In 2025, Tennessee families should be aware of two significant developments that illustrate the state’s unique approach to food assistance programs.

Summer Benefits for Children: The SUN Bucks Controversy

For several years, Tennessee participated in a federal program called Pandemic EBT (and later SUN Bucks) that provided extra grocery funds during the summer to families with school-aged children. This program provided about $120 per child to nearly 700,000 children across all 95 counties, with the federal government covering the cost of the benefits and half of the administrative expenses.

For the summer of 2025, Tennessee’s leadership made the decision to opt out of the federal SUN Bucks program. Instead, the state created its own, much smaller, state-funded program called the

Summer Nutrition Initiative. This new program provides a one-time payment of $120, but only to children who are already on SNAP or TANF and live in one of 15 specific rural counties. This means that the vast majority of low-income children in Tennessee, including all those in major urban areas like Nashville and Memphis, will not receive any summer grocery benefits in 2025. This policy choice was made despite analysis showing that the state is spending more of its own money to serve far fewer children compared to the federal program.

Proposed “Healthy SNAP Act”

In early 2025, a bill known as the “Tennessee Healthy SNAP Act” (HB1236/SB1154) was introduced in the state legislature. This bill would have required TDHS to ask the federal government for a special waiver to prohibit SNAP recipients from using their benefits to buy candy and soft drinks. This proposal generated significant debate. However, the bill ultimately did not pass and died in a legislative committee. This means that for now, there are no new restrictions on the types of food items that can be purchased with SNAP benefits in Tennessee.

These recent events show a trend in which state leaders are seeking more control over how federal assistance programs are run in Tennessee, often resulting in more restrictive rules or more limited benefits compared to what is available in other states.

Conclusion: Getting Help and Moving Forward

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a powerful tool that can help you and your family afford healthy food during difficult times. The amount of help you can get is based on a detailed calculation, and understanding how your expenses—especially for housing, utilities, and medical care—can be deducted from your income is the most important step you can take to receive the full benefit you are due.

The rules, especially those around work requirements and assets, are strictly enforced in Tennessee. But by being prepared with your documents and understanding the requirements for your specific situation, you can navigate the process successfully. Do not be discouraged if the system seems complicated. If you believe you might be eligible, you should apply. The worst that can happen is you are told no, but the best that can happen is you get the support you need to ensure your family is well-fed and healthy.

For more information or to begin your application, use the resources below.

Key Contacts and Resources for SNAP in Tennessee

• To Apply Online or Check Your Case Status:
  • Visit the OneDHS Customer Portal at: https://onedhs.tn.gov/
• For Questions About Your Case or Application:
  • Call the TDHS Family Assistance Service Center at 1-866-311-4287.
• For Free Application Assistance:
  • Contact a local food bank, such as Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee (615-329-3491).
  • Contact a legal aid organization, such as the Tennessee Justice Center.
• For a Lost or Stolen EBT Card:
  • Call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-997-9444.