The amount of food stamps a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions. [7 C.F.R. § 273.10(d), 273.10(e)(1), 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(A); MPP §§ 63-502.3, 63-503.32.]

The county welfare department takes the maximum amount of food stamp benefits a household can get for the number of people in the household, and then deducts 30 percent of the household’s net income. [7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(A); MPP § 63-503.32; ACIN I-45-07.]  As of June 2008, the current maximum monthly allotment for a two-person household is $298.00. [ACIN I-45-07.]  This means that for every ten dollars of net income the household has, the food stamp office will reduce the food stamp allotment by three dollars.

If there are only one or two people in the household, the food stamp office will give it at least $10 in food stamps, if the household members qualify for food stamps at all. [7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C); MPP § 63-503.325(QR).]  Also, if the household has three or more people, and the food stamp allotment comes out to only $1, it will get $2. If eligible for $3, the household will get $4; and if eligible for $5, it get $6. [7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C); MPP § 63-503.325(QR).]