Oh, SNAP: Why millionaires are getting food stamps, and how to stop them

Lobster and filet mignon aren’t what most people picture when they think of food stamps. Yet in Minnesota, a retired engineer and millionaire used federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits to buy exactly that. His story highlights a loophole that allows households with significant assets to qualify for aid.

SNAP is meant to help Americans in need to afford nutritious food. But a federal policy known as “broad-based categorical eligibility,” can extend benefits to households with substantial wealth, diverting resources from those who actually need them. Eliminating that loophole could save taxpayers billions and refocus the program on its core mission.

There are two routes to food stamp eligibility. One is to meet federal income and asset tests. Under standard federal income rules, gross income must not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty line (that is $41,795 for a household of four in 2025) and net income must not exceed 100 percent of the federal poverty line ($32,150). To qualify in this manner, one must also have assets no greater than $3,000, or $4,500 for those disabled or over 60 years old.

But the second way to qualify is through what is known as “broad-based categorical eligibility.” This is where our retired millionaire comes in. Through this mechanism, households can automatically qualify for SNAP if they receive a service from another means-tested program, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, where no asset test is required.

The “services” in question can be as........

© The Hill