How to Get More Food Stamps in Pennsylvania

Every person enrolled in SNAP in Pennsylvania is eligible to get the maximum benefit level allowable, based on their income and household size. However, not all Texans get the maximum food stamps they are eligible for. The number one reason for this is a lack of understanding of the food stamps application rules. In this post, we will walk you through how to get more food stamps in Pennsylvania by correctly calculating your income, knowing what deductions you can take, and making sure you take the maximum allowable deductions to get the benefit amount you are eligible for.

How to Get More Food Stamps in Pennsylvania

Here are the steps to follow to make sure you get the maximum SNAP benefit level allowable, based on their income and household size

Step 1 – Make sure you know the SNAP Income Limit for Pennsylvania

The first step in making sure you get the maximum SNAP benefits you are eligible for is to know the income limit.

This is important because income is the number one factor that determines how much SNAP benefits you will get.

Knowing the income limit allows you to calculate your Gross and Net Income, from which the allowable deductions will be taken.

For 2022, here’s the Pennsylvania SNAP Income Limit:

For instructions on how to determine your gross and net income, see our post on Pennsylvania SNAP Income Limit.

Step 2 – Know the Maximum SNAP Allotment per Household Size

The table below shows the maximum food stamps benefits for households with zero income.

As your income increases, your Pennsylvania SNAP benefit amount goes down.

The table below shows the maximum SNAP allotment per household size for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Step 3 – Calculate How Much will Get in Food Stamps

The most important step in the process is to calculate how much you are likely to get in SNAP benefits based on your income and household size.

We are going to calculate the SNAP benefits amount for a family of 5 as an example.

Follow the same steps below to calculate the SNAP amount for your household.

Example: SNAP amount for a family of 6

Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 6 will get in Pennsylvania SNAP benefits.

First, we need to start with the household income.

If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).

Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.

Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.

From the table above, the maximum a household of 6 could receive in Pennsylvania SNAP is $1,190.

The result is the amount of your monthly Pennsylvania SNAP benefits for a family of 6.

Here’s an example:

Example: Kate and her family of six (6) have $2,700 in net income after allowable income and shelter deductions. To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $2,700) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:

$2,700 Net Income for Kate’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 810 Countable Income
$ 1,190 Maximum SNAP for 6 persons
-$810 Countable income
$ 380 Monthly SNAP benefits for Kate’s family

Step 4 – Claim Your Deductions

In order to calculate your net income to determine your eligibility for Pennsylvania SNAP, you have to take your household’s total gross monthly income minus any allowable expenses.

All allowable expenses should be subtracted from your gross monthly income.

As mentioned above, knowing what deductions are allowable is a key part in making sure you get the maximum SNAP benefit your household is eligible for.

To find out what all of the allowable deductions are, continue reading below.

Pennsylvania SNAP Allowable Deductions for 2022

To calculate your net monthly income, you must deduct approved household expenses. Here are the expenses that can be deducted from your household’s gross income:

SNAP allowable deductions:

Here’s the list of expenses that can count as food stamps deductions.

• Standard medical expense — $170 (minus $35)
• Actual medical expense (minus $35)
• Homeless shelter standard — $159.73
• Maximum excess shelter — $597
• Standard utility allowance — $367
• Basic utility allowance — $345
• Phone standard — $38

Pennsylvania SNAP EBT FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania SNAP/EBT benefits:

When Will I Recieve my PA SNAP Benefits?

In the state of Pennsylvania, each county distributes SNAP benefits to those who qualify.

Payments are not made on a single day of the month.

Instead, Food Stamps Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards over the first 10 business days of every month.

Additionally, Cash Assistance Benefits are deposited between the 11th and 20th business day of the month.

When your food stamps benefit or cash assistance benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your case number.

See below for the SNAP payment schedule for Pennsylvania for April 2022.

Any remaining balance on your EBT card is added to the next month’s balance.

What can you purchase with SNAP Benefits?

Here is the list of items you can purchase with your Pennsylvania SNAP EBT benefits:

Do Restaurants in Pennsylvania Accept EBT?

Unfortunately, you cannot use your Pennsylvania EBT card at restaurants to purchase ready-made food or hot food.

That is because Pennsylvania does not currently participate in the Restaurant Meals Program.

The program is currently available in the following seven (7) states:

• California
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Arizona
• New York
• Illinois
• Rhode Island

How to Get More Food Stamps in Pennsylvania Summary

We hope this post on how to get more Food Stamps in Pennsylvania was helpful to you!

If you have more questions about your EBT or SNAP Benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.

If the meantime, check out our other articles on Pennsylvania Food Stamps:

PA Food Stamps Income Limit for 2022
Pennsylvania Food Stamps Eligibility Guide
Pennsylvania EBT Card Discounts & Freebies
2022 Pennsylvania Food Stamps Increase
Pennsylvania Food Stamps FAQs
Philadelphia Food Stamps Guide for 2022