North Dakota Benefits Calculator: SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and Other Income Limits (2026–27)

North Dakota income limits at a glance

Income is before taxes. Each program counts income its own way (some take off deductions first), so a household just over a limit here can still qualify: the calculator works it out properly.

Sources: SNAP – Fiscal Year 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (memo and tables, signed August 21, 2026) (USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (formerly Food and Nutrition Service)); 7 CFR 273.9 Income and deductions (eCFR up to date as of 2026-10-29) (eCFR / National Archives (USDA rule)); 7 CFR 273.10 Determining household eligibility and benefit levels (eCFR 2026-10-29) (eCFR / National Archives (USDA rule)); 7 CFR 273.8 Resource eligibility standards (eCFR 2026-10-29) (eCFR / National Archives (USDA rule)); Public Law 119-21 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"), 4 July 2025, Title I Subtitle A "Nutrition", sections 10101-10108 (139 Stat. 81-85) (U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)); SNAP Policy Manual, 505 Categorical and Broad Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); SNAP Policy Manual, Appendix B - Table of Standards (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); SNAP Policy Manual, 802 Medical Deductions (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (North Dakota Health and Human Services) (North Dakota Health and Human Services); MACStats Exhibit 35. Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Levels as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level for Children and Pregnant Women by State, July 2025 (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a federal agency); MACStats Exhibit 36. Medicaid Income Eligibility Levels as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level for Non-Aged, Non-Disabled, Non-Pregnant Adults by State, July 2025 (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a federal agency); N.D.C.C. chapter 50-24.1 Medical Assistance for Needy Persons (PDF; section 50-24.1-37 Medicaid expansion) (State of North Dakota site (ndlegis.gov)); North Dakota Medicaid - Medicaid Eligibility (all tables 'effective April 1, 2026') (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Children's Health Insurance Program (income level effective April 1, 2026 - includes the 5% disregard) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Medicaid Expansion (rates effective April 1, 2026) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); North Dakota Medicaid - Medicaid Eligibility (all tables 'effective April 1, 2026') (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Stay Enrolled: Updates on SNAP and Medicaid (information updated Sept. 11, 2026) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals, interim final rule with comment period, 91 FR 33348 (3 June 2026), CMS-2454-IFC, RIN 0938-AV98, effective 31 July 2026 (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services via the Federal Register (read as the govinfo.gov PDF)); Public Law 119-21 (4 July 2025; 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'; CMS now calls it the 'Working Families Tax Cut' legislation), Title VII Subtitle B Chapter 1 sections 71101-71121 (Medicaid) and 71201, 71301-71303 (U.S. Congress via the Government Publishing Office); Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050-23052, FR Doc. 2026-08323, 29 Apr 2026) (USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register notice)); The Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report (Economic Information Bulletin 304, June 2026) (USDA Economic Research Service); Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 17932-17935, FR Doc. 2026-06842, 9 Apr 2026) (USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register notice)); Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) page: income limits (Effective Oct. 1, 2026 - Sept. 30, 2027), waitlist, age limits, copay (North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)). Checked October 31, 2026.

Download every state's limits (CSV, opens in Excel) Every state and DC, households of 1 to 8 people: each program's monthly income limit and the most TANF pays, as the state pages show them, with the period each figure is for.

Where the cliffs are for a North Dakota family

• $4,555 a month: SNAP ends or drops, and the family has $151 less a month than just below it.
• $4,669 a month: WIC, Lifeline end or drop, and the family has $73 less a month than just below it.

Worked out by this site's calculator with North Dakota's rules as of November 1, 2026. Money left means pay, and benefits counted as money, after federal taxes, the child care bill and health insurance premiums. Your own household will differ: put it in the calculator above.

Each program in North Dakota

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (SNAP)

North Dakota lets every household with gross income up to 200% of the poverty line (no limit on savings) apply (broad-based categorical eligibility). The amount still depends on income after deductions. A household that pays for heating or cooling counts a standard utility allowance of $802 a month with its rent. Where to apply.

Sources: SNAP Policy Manual, 505 Categorical and Broad Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); SNAP Policy Manual, Appendix B - Table of Standards (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); SNAP Policy Manual, 802 Medical Deductions (North Dakota Health and Human Services, Economic Assistance (SNAP Policy Manual)); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (North Dakota Health and Human Services) (North Dakota Health and Human Services). Checked October 31, 2026.

North Dakota Medicaid and CHIP

North Dakota has expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 qualify up to 138% of the poverty line. From January 1, 2027, adults 19 to 64 covered through North Dakota’s Medicaid expansion must show 80 hours a month of work, community service, a work program or half-time school, or household income of at least $580 a month, to get or keep this coverage, unless they are exempt (for example, parents of a child 13 or under, people with a disability, and pregnant women). Where to apply.

Monthly income before taxes, counted the way Medicaid counts it (modified adjusted gross income); a pregnant woman counts the baby she expects. The percents include the 5 points of income Medicaid disregards.

Sources: MACStats Exhibit 35. Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Levels as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level for Children and Pregnant Women by State, July 2025 (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a federal agency); MACStats Exhibit 36. Medicaid Income Eligibility Levels as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Level for Non-Aged, Non-Disabled, Non-Pregnant Adults by State, July 2025 (Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), a federal agency); N.D.C.C. chapter 50-24.1 Medical Assistance for Needy Persons (PDF; section 50-24.1-37 Medicaid expansion) (State of North Dakota site (ndlegis.gov)); North Dakota Medicaid - Medicaid Eligibility (all tables 'effective April 1, 2026') (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Children's Health Insurance Program (income level effective April 1, 2026 - includes the 5% disregard) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Medicaid Expansion (rates effective April 1, 2026) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); North Dakota Medicaid - Medicaid Eligibility (all tables 'effective April 1, 2026') (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Stay Enrolled: Updates on SNAP and Medicaid (information updated Sept. 11, 2026) (State of North Dakota site (www.hhs.nd.gov)); Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals, interim final rule with comment period, 91 FR 33348 (3 June 2026), CMS-2454-IFC, RIN 0938-AV98, effective 31 July 2026 (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services via the Federal Register (read as the govinfo.gov PDF)); Public Law 119-21 (4 July 2025; 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'; CMS now calls it the 'Working Families Tax Cut' legislation), Title VII Subtitle B Chapter 1 sections 71101-71121 (Medicaid) and 71201, 71301-71303 (U.S. Congress via the Government Publishing Office). Checked October 31, 2026.

North Dakota Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Cash help for families with children. Where to apply.

Source: TANF Programs by State (Help for Families map) (HHS/ACF/Office of Family Assistance). Checked October 31, 2026.

Child Care Assistance Program

Help paying for child care while parents work or study. Since December 1, 2025, new applicants in North Dakota may be put on a waiting list. Where to apply.

Source: Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) page: income limits (Effective Oct. 1, 2026 - Sept. 30, 2027), waitlist, age limits, copay (North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)). Checked October 31, 2026.

Phone numbers and where to go in North Dakota

Each number and address below is the one North Dakota's own page printed when we checked it, with that page and the day under it. Where we could not read the state's page, it says "Not checked yet". Numbers change: if one does not work, the state's main page has the current one.

Applying is free. Start from the addresses here or the state's own page, not an ad or a link someone texts you, and never pay anyone to apply for you. Is this real?

How to ask for a hearing in North Dakota

If you think a decision on your benefits is wrong, you can ask for a fair hearing: a meeting with someone outside the office that decided. Asking is free. Here is how North Dakota says to ask, program by program.

Federal rules set the outer limits: a SNAP household can ask about anything the office did in the past 90 days (7 CFR 273.15), and for Medicaid a state must allow a reasonable time of up to 90 days from the day the notice was mailed (42 CFR 431.221), so a state can set a shorter Medicaid limit. Whether your benefits keep coming while you wait depends on how soon you ask: your notice says by when. Only the agency and the hearing officer decide your case.

When benefits are paid in North Dakota

Each state sets the days its SNAP benefits arrive. This is North Dakota's rule as its own page states it; the exact day for your case is on your approval notice. SSI, Social Security and tax refund dates, and every state's SNAP rule, are on the payment dates page.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (SNAP)

1st of the month for ongoing clients; new clients get a notice with the date

If you are an ongoing client, you will receive your benefits in your EBT account on the first day of the month, even if the first falls on a weekend or a holiday.

Source: hhs.nd.gov, checked November 1, 2026

North Dakota Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

First working day of each month for ongoing recipients

If you are an ongoing TANF recipient, you will receive your benefits in your card account on the first working day of each month.

Source: hhs.nd.gov, checked November 1, 2026

Free help from a person in North Dakota

These are free. None of them can approve benefits, but they can help you apply, answer a letter or get ready for a hearing.

Updated November 1, 2026