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213 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 5: Financial eligibility Note: A filing group reapplying for SNAP after losing eligibility due to lottery or gambling winnings cannot be determined eligible using Categorical Eligibility rules even if they meet the criteria of CE, ECE or BBCE. The total countable income can be under 200% but still be over the income or resource limits, in which case the household will be found ineligible. See Lottery and Gambling Winnings EG. Income over 200% and eligible for SNAP The filing group can have income too high to be BBCE and still be eligible due to one of these reasons: • The filing group is CE or ECE (Remember: we do not determine BBCE if the filing group is CE or ECE.) Example: The Partridge Family is receiving Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) with income of $6000 a month for a family of 4, which is still under the exit limit for ERDC. Their income is over 200% FPL, however since all SNAP filing group members are in the ERDC filing group, they are eligible for SNAP because they are ECE. • The filing group is not subject to the countable income test and there are high expenses resulting in an adjusted/net income below 100% (middle column of the 5530). Example: Sam is 70 years old, lives alone, and has $3000 per month of Social Security retirement Benefits (SSB) and $1000 per month from an IRA. Sam is not CE, nor ECE and has income too high to be BBCE, therefore Sam is subject to the SNAP adjusted income limit (100% FPL). Due to age, Sam is not subject to the countable income limit (130%). Sam has a mortgage of $850 a month and pays all the utilities, including gas heat. Sam has out of pocket medical expenses of $2800 per month. Even though Sam’s income is over 200% FPL, it is important to enter all data for Sam; (due to the reasons explained above), after running eligibility, Sam is eligible for a SNAP benefit amount. Combined Standards chart (5530) breakdown The SNAP standards chart has four income columns. Two of the columns are income limits (100% and 130%) and two are not income limits (200% and 165%). A B C D Categorical eligibility limit (200%) Use number in filing group Countable income limit 130% FPL Use number in need group Adjusted income limit 100% FPL Use number in need group SNAP payment standard (Thrifty Food Plan) Use number in benefit group Separate HH with elderly and disable 165% FPL