02/06/2026
📊 Most retirees who qualify for SNAP never apply.
The biggest reason is not stigma. It is misinformation. They assume SNAP is only for younger families, or that their Social Security check puts them over the limit.
SNAP has a completely different set of rules for households with someone age 60 or older. The gross income test does not apply. Only net income counts, which is after deductions for medical costs, shelter, and other expenses.
That medical deduction is the one almost nobody uses. If you spend more than $35 a month on Medicare premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental, or vision, every dollar above $35 gets subtracted from your countable income. Only 16% of eligible seniors claim it.
The average benefit for a senior living alone is $188 a month. That is over $2,200 a year toward groceries.
Your home does not count as an asset. One vehicle does not count. Most retirement accounts do not count. The asset limit for 60+ households is $4,500 in countable resources, and most of what retirees own is excluded.
Nearly 9 million older adults are eligible but not enrolled. If you have a parent, grandparent, or neighbor on a fixed income, this is worth sharing.
