Determining the Benefit Level

Once a household has been determined eligible for SNAP considering both nonfinancial and financial eligibility standards, the case manager must determine the household's benefit level or monthly allotment. (A) Household Size - One to Eight. Refer to 106 CMR 364.980 to find the monthly allotment based on the household's monthly net income (using dollars and cents) and household size. Categorically eligible one- and two-person households are entitled to a minimum benefit, except in the initial certification month. This minimum benefit amount, is posted at www.mass.gov/dta. Categorically eligible households with three or more members who do not qualify for a benefit because their income exceeds the level for which benefits are issued cannot be denied. These households must be suspended in accordance with 106 CMR 365.180: Categorically Eligible Assistance Units. (B) Household Size - Over Eight. (1) Determine the maximum allotment for the household size by adding the amount posted at www.mass.gov/dta for each individual in excess of eight to the maximum allotment for an eight-person household. (2) Determine the household's monthly net income in accordance with 106 CMR 364.500. (3) Multiply the household's monthly net income (using dollars and cents) by 30%. Drop any digits beyond the second decimal place. If the result is not whole dollars, round the result up to the next whole dollar. (4) Subtract this 30% amount from the maximum allotment for the household size. The resulting amount is the household's monthly allotment. However, when the calculated amount is zero or less, the household is ineligible for benefits since its net income exceeds the level at which benefits are issued. (C) For households containing both SNAP members and legal noncitizens ineligible for SNAP benefits, the Department will: (1) Step One: Calculate SNAP benefits using all household members, all household members' income and full deductions to determine the maximum SNAP benefits the household would be entitled to if all members were SNAP eligible. (2) Step Two: Calculate the SNAP benefits for SNAP members excluding the income and deductions of legal noncitizens ineligible for SNAP benefits. (3) Step Three: Compare the results from Step One and Step Two. (a) If the Step Two amount exceeds or is equal to the Step One amount, the Department will pay the Step One amount as the SNAP benefit. (b) If the Step Two amount is less than the Step One amount, the Department will pay the Step Two amount as the SNAP benefit.