United States · SNAP · FY 2027
SNAP shelter deduction calculator.
See how much of your rent, mortgage and utilities SNAP subtracts from your income and how the cap changes the result.
SNAP deducts housing and utility costs that exceed half of your income after other deductions. For FY2027 the deduction is capped at $769 in the 48 states and D.C. unless a household member is 60 or older or disabled.
Your inputs
Estimate
How the excess shelter deduction works
First SNAP subtracts the 20% earned income deduction, the standard deduction, dependent care and (for elderly or disabled members) medical costs over $35. Half of what remains is the shelter floor. Rent or mortgage, property tax, insurance and utilities above that floor are the excess shelter cost, per 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(ii).
FY2027 standard deductions and shelter caps
| Area | 1 to 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ | Shelter cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 states and D.C. | $217 | $217 | $229 | $268 | $308 | $769 |
| Alaska | $371 | $371 | $371 | $371 | $385 | $1,229 |
| Hawaii | $306 | $306 | $306 | $309 | $354 | $1,036 |
| Guam | $435 | $435 | $457 | $536 | $614 | $903 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | $191 | $191 | $229 | $268 | $308 | $606 |
Worked example
Income after other deductions is $1,223 and shelter costs are $1,000. The floor is $611.50, so the excess is $388.50, under the $769 cap, and net income falls to $834.50.
Homeless households can claim a flat shelter deduction of up to $205.66 for FY2027. Many states replace actual utility bills with a standard utility allowance; enter the figure your state uses if you know it.
Not modelled: state utility allowances, child support and other income exclusions, immigrant eligibility, student and work-requirement rules, prorated first months, and state broad-based categorical eligibility, which most states have adopted and which can change the income and resource limits that apply to you. Your state agency makes the real decision.
Sources, retrieved October 2026: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Fiscal Year 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (memo dated August 21, 2026), 7 CFR 273.9, income and deductions, 7 CFR 273.10, benefit levels, 7 U.S.C. 2017 and USDA SNAP eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SNAP shelter deduction cap for 2026-2027?
$769 a month in the 48 states and D.C., $1,229 in Alaska, $1,036 in Hawaii, $903 in Guam and $606 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Who is not subject to the shelter cap?
Households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled get the full excess shelter deduction without the cap.
What counts as shelter cost?
Rent or mortgage, property taxes, homeowner insurance and utilities such as heat, electricity and water. Your state defines the utility allowances it accepts.
Does a higher deduction raise my benefit?
Usually yes. A lower net income means a smaller 30% contribution, so the benefit rises by roughly 30 cents for each extra deducted dollar, until the maximum allotment.
What is the homeless shelter deduction?
A flat amount of up to $205.66 a month for FY2027 for eligible homeless households instead of actual shelter costs.
Estimate, not an eligibility decision
This page applies published USDA figures in your browser and sends nothing anywhere. It is educational and does not replace an application with your state SNAP agency, which makes the actual determination.