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

Washington 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)); Categorical Eligibility for Basic Food (Eligibility A-Z Manual, EA-Z), revised April 1, 2026 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration); Emergency rule-making order CR-103E, WSR 26-20-060 (WAC 388-412-0015, 388-450-0185, 388-450-0190, 388-450-0195, 388-470-0005, 388-478-0060): SNAP cost-of-living adjustments effective October 1, 2026 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration); Basic Food Benefits | DSHS (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)); 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); WAC 182-505-0250 Washington apple health - MAGI-based adult medical (Washington Legislature) (State of Washington site (app.leg.wa.gov)); Washington Apple Health Income and Resource Standards, October 1, 2026 (HCA 19-0096 (10/26)) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.gov)); Apple Health (Medicaid) (HCA) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.gov)); Apple Health (Medicaid) work requirements (HCA) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.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)); WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-478-0035 Maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-450-0170 Earned income deduction for TANF/SFA, RCA, PWA households (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-470-0005 How resources affect eligibility for cash assistance and basic food (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); TANF Programs by State (Help for Families map) (HHS/ACF/Office of Family Assistance); Family Copayment for Subsidized Child Care: Income Eligibility and Copay Calculation Table, effective October 1, 2026 (revised September 8, 2026) (Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)); Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) (Washington DCYF); CCDF State Plan FFY 2025-2027 (current plan) (Washington DCYF). 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 Washington family

• $2,570 a month: Child care ends or drops, and the family has $56 less a month than just below it.
• $3,597 a month: Child care ends or drops, and the family has $30 less a month than just below it.
• $4,625 a month: Child care ends or drops, and the family has $65 less a month than just below it.
• $4,896 a month: WIC, Lifeline end or drop, and the family has $73 less a month than just below it.
• $5,653 a month: Child care ends or drops, and the family has $71 less a month than just below it.
• $6,167 a month: Child care ends or drops, and the family has $402 less a month than just below it.

Worked out by this site's calculator with Washington'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 Washington

Basic Food (SNAP)

Washington 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 $533 a month with its rent. Where to apply.

Sources: Categorical Eligibility for Basic Food (Eligibility A-Z Manual, EA-Z), revised April 1, 2026 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration); Emergency rule-making order CR-103E, WSR 26-20-060 (WAC 388-412-0015, 388-450-0185, 388-450-0190, 388-450-0195, 388-470-0005, 388-478-0060): SNAP cost-of-living adjustments effective October 1, 2026 (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration); Basic Food Benefits | DSHS (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)). Checked October 31, 2026.

Apple Health and Apple Health for Kids

Washington 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 Washington’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); WAC 182-505-0250 Washington apple health - MAGI-based adult medical (Washington Legislature) (State of Washington site (app.leg.wa.gov)); Washington Apple Health Income and Resource Standards, October 1, 2026 (HCA 19-0096 (10/26)) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.gov)); Apple Health (Medicaid) (HCA) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.gov)); Apple Health (Medicaid) work requirements (HCA) (State of Washington site (www.hca.wa.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.

Washington TANF Program

Cash help for families with children: at most $706 a month for a family of three with no other income. Where to apply.

Sources: WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-478-0035 Maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-450-0170 Earned income deduction for TANF/SFA, RCA, PWA households (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); WAC 388-470-0005 How resources affect eligibility for cash assistance and basic food (Washington State Legislature (Code Reviser), WAC published at app.leg.wa.gov); TANF Programs by State (Help for Families map) (HHS/ACF/Office of Family Assistance). Checked October 31, 2026.

Working Connections Child Care

Help paying for child care while parents work or study. Where to apply.

Sources: Family Copayment for Subsidized Child Care: Income Eligibility and Copay Calculation Table, effective October 1, 2026 (revised September 8, 2026) (Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)); Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) (Washington DCYF); CCDF State Plan FFY 2025-2027 (current plan) (Washington DCYF). Checked October 31, 2026.

Phone numbers and where to go in Washington

Each number and address below is the one Washington'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 Washington

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 Washington 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 Washington

Each state sets the days its SNAP benefits arrive. This is Washington'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.

Basic Food (SNAP)

1st through 20th of each month; the approval letter says your specific day

For Food Benefits: Food benefits are deposited the first through the 20th days of each month. Your approval letter will say which specific day of the month your benefits will

Source: dshs.wa.gov, checked November 1, 2026

Washington TANF Program

1st of each month (first banking day if direct deposit / EFT)

For Cash Benefits: Ongoing cash benefits are deposited on the first day of each month. If you're enrolled for Electronic Funds Transfer or EFT Direct Deposit, cash benefits are deposited

Source: dshs.wa.gov, checked November 1, 2026

Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) in 2026

Washington took part in 2026, paying $120 for each child who qualified. The state calls it SUN Bucks (Summer EBT).

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program that provides a one-time $120 benefit per year to help families buy groceries for their school-aged children when meals aren't

Source: dshs.wa.gov, checked November 1, 2026

Free help from a person in Washington

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