Can two people in the same household get food stamps?
Yes, two people living in the same household can both get food stamps (also called SNAP). If they're considered to be part of the same household, they’ll qualify for food stamps together and receive SNAP benefits under the same account.
If two people live together but don’t share any finances, or buy and prepare any food together, they may be considered two separate households for SNAP, and can probably apply for food stamps separately.
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Defining a household for SNAP#defining-a-household-for-snap
When you apply for SNAP, you’ll have to share how many people live in your household— and SNAP defines members of a household as people you buy and make food with.
That means that not everyone who lives at your address is necessarily part of your household.
But under the SNAP rules, there are some people who are always considered part of the same household. That includes:
- Married couples
- A person under 22 who lives with their parents or guardians
- Children under 18 living with an adult who’s not their parent but has “parental control”
Can adults living together get separate food stamps?#can-adults-living-together-get-separate-food-stamps
Yes, adults living together can apply for food stamps separately if they are not considered part of the same household under the SNAP rules. That can include:
1. Roommates#1-roommates
If you live with roommates, but buy and prepare food separately, you are considered different households under the SNAP rules. That means that you and your roommates can apply for SNAP separately.
Your local SNAP office will consider your eligibility based on your income alone, not everyone’s pooled income together. This may apply to students who live with roommates.
However, if you live with roommates or a partner and share groceries and meals, you’re considered a household under SNAP and should apply for food stamps together.
2. Adult children living with their parents#2-adult-children-living-with-their-parents
If you are a legal adult and live with your parents and aren’t a dependent, both you and your parents may be considered different households for SNAP. It’s not about the shared address or familial relationships at this point; it’s about how you purchase and prepare food.
Like roommates, you must buy and prepare food separately to be considered two separate households.
Having a written agreement that goes over how shared expenses, such as mortgage, rent, or utilities are split may help streamline the SNAP application process.
These agreements aren’t required, but they can help explain expenses in the application and save time in the SNAP interview process.
But if you share the cost of groceries with your parents and cook most of your meals together, you are considered a household under SNAP and should apply together.
Explaining your household for the SNAP application#explaining-your-household-for-the-snap-application
When you’re filling out your initial SNAP application, you’ll need to list who you live with, even if they’re not part of your household.
From there, you’ll indicate if they’re applying for benefits with you, or not. For example, if you live with roommates, you may have to list them, but you won’t include that they’re applying for benefits with you if they aren’t part of your household under the SNAP rules.
Then in the SNAP interview, you can also explain your household situation to the caseworker if it was unclear on the written application or the documents you submitted.
