North Carolina SNAP Benefit Calculator
North Carolina schedules SNAP deposits on odd-numbered days — the third through the twenty-first — keyed to your Social Security digit. Estimate your monthly benefit below, then find your deposit date.
North Carolina SNAP Calculator
North Carolina stretches eligibility to 200 percent of poverty through ePASS, and the calculator honors that expanded threshold.
North Carolina SNAP Calculator
Instant estimate • Free • No signup required
Total people living and eating together
Wages, Social Security, unemployment, child support — all income before taxes
Rent or mortgage payment + average utility costs (electric, gas, water)
Childcare or adult dependent care expenses needed for work
North Carolina Quick Facts
- ✓Program Name: Food and Nutrition Services (FNS)
- ✓Max Monthly Benefit: $306-$1,841
- ✓Population: 10.7M
- ✓Region: South
Important Note
North Carolina's odd-day deposit schedule puzzles newcomers, so note your expected payment date after approval. The county social services office makes the real decision, while ePASS only manages online filing. Broad-based eligibility at 200 percent of poverty quietly removes the asset test for most households.
FY2027 Federal SNAP Limits
- ✓Max benefit (1 person): $306/month
- ✓Max benefit (family of 4): $1,023/month
- ✓Gross income limit: 130% of FPL
- ✓Net income limit: 100% of FPL
About North Carolina SNAP Benefits
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services supervises the program, and county social services offices decide each case. ePASS, the state's online portal, accepts applications and document uploads any hour of the day.
Households earning up to 200 percent of the poverty line can qualify through broad-based categorical eligibility, with no asset test. Benefits post to an EBT card on the odd-day schedule, so two neighbors rarely share a payment date.
A family of four draws up to $1,023 monthly in FY2027, and one adult qualifies for $306. Expect a phone interview with your county caseworker after filing, plus requests for income proof.
📋 On This Page
The Numbers That Matter — North Carolina FNS at a Glance
North Carolina runs the federal SNAP program under the name Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), and it is one of the more generous states when it comes to eligibility: the gross income ceiling sits at 200% of the federal poverty level with no resource test, roughly $4,554 a month for a family of three under FY2027 guidelines. Deposits follow one of the most predictable schedules in the country — odd calendar days only, from the 3rd to the 21st, keyed to the last digit of your Social Security number. This page covers the FY2027 figures effective October 1, 2026, the exact deposit math, and how to apply through Mecklenburg or any other county DSS.
What Is FNS in North Carolina?
Food and Nutrition Services is North Carolina's name for SNAP. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Social Services, supervises the program while your county Department of Social Services processes applications and runs your case. Benefits load onto an EBT card accepted at Walmart, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Aldi, Publix, Lowe's Foods, Ingles, and thousands of independent grocers and farmers markets statewide.
North Carolina uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility at 200% FPL — the highest gross income tier USDA allows — and completely removes the asset test. A family of four earning up to about $5,500 a month gross can qualify in 2027, which surprises a lot of working parents who assumed they earned "too much." Households where every member already receives Work First or SSI are categorically eligible automatically.
FNS benefits are separate from WIC and from North Carolina's Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program for school children, though the same EBT infrastructure is used — many families receive all three on the same card.
North Carolina FNS Income Limits FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027)
Because North Carolina applies BBCE at 200% FPL, the practical gross income limit for most households is the 200% row below. Households containing an elderly (60+) or disabled member are exempt from the gross test entirely and qualify on net income:
| Household Size | Gross at 130% FPL | Gross at 200% FPL (NC BBCE limit) | Net at 100% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $2,660 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $3,608 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $4,554 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $5,500 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $6,448 | $3,224 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $7,394 | $3,697 |
Remember the 20% earned income disregard: if you earn $2,500 gross from work, SNAP counts only $2,000 of it before the 200% test. That single rule keeps thousands of North Carolina workers on the program.
North Carolina FNS Maximum Monthly Allotments FY2027
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
North Carolina bases the benefit on a 30-day cycle, and partial months are prorated from your application date. Apply early in the month if you can — a family approved on the 5th gets roughly 26 days of benefits for that first month instead of a full allotment.
Deductions That Raise Your FNS Benefit
North Carolina applies the standard federal deduction set. Every dollar of deduction reduces the net income your benefit is computed from, so document them all:
Standard Deduction
$217 for households of 1–3, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, $308 for 6+ (FY2027).
20% Earned Income Disregard
Applied to all gross wages and self-employment profit before any other math.
Dependent Care
Unlimited actual childcare or adult-care costs that enable work or training — a major benefit for single parents in Charlotte and Raleigh where daycare runs high.
Excess Shelter
Shelter costs above half of adjusted income, capped at $769 in FY2027 (no cap if a member is 60+ or disabled). The utility standard applies whether you heat with gas, electric, or wood.
Medical Above $35
For 60+/disabled members: out-of-pocket medical costs over $35 monthly count as a deduction.
North Carolina EBT Deposit Schedule — Odd Days Only
North Carolina loads FNS benefits on odd calendar days between the 3rd and the 21st, keyed to the last digit of your Social Security number. It's one of the longest, most staggered schedules in the country — and one of the easiest to memorize:
| Your SSN Ends In | Benefits Available |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3rd of the month |
| 2 | 5th of the month |
| 3 | 7th of the month |
| 4 | 9th of the month |
| 5 | 11th of the month |
| 6 | 13th of the month |
| 7 | 15th of the month |
| 8 | 17th of the month |
| 9 | 19th of the month |
| 0 | 21st of the month |
The schedule repeats every month regardless of weekends or holidays — benefits post overnight on your assigned day. If your card seems empty, check the calendar: a SSN ending in 0 means nothing loads until the 21st, which catches new applicants off guard every single month.
Work Requirements — the ABAWD Time Limit
FNS recipients ages 18 through 64 (raised from 54 by federal law) who are able to work and have no children under 18 in the household face the ABAWD time limit: 3 months of benefits in any 36-month period unless they work or train at least 80 hours a month, participate in North Carolina's Food and Nutrition Services Employment & Training program, or meet an exemption. Veterans, people who are homeless, pregnant women, and 18–24-year-olds formerly in foster care have their own exemption paths. County DSS offices screen every ABAWD case for exemptions automatically, but it's smart to document your hours if you're right at the 80-hour line.
How to Apply for FNS in North Carolina
Online — ePASS
ePASS (epass.nc.gov) is North Carolina's benefits portal: apply for FNS, submit documents, check status, and complete your interview packet without visiting an office.
By Phone
Call the FNS Customer Service Center at 1-866-719-0141 (TTY 1-877-452-2514) for help completing or checking an application.
Paper or In Person
Download the application from ncdhhs.gov or pick one up at any county DSS office; return it by mail, fax, email, or in person. County offices must register your application the same day it arrives.
After you apply, a county caseworker schedules an eligibility interview (usually by phone) and issues an approval or denial notice within 30 days — or 7 days for expedited cases. The SNAP document checklist lists exactly what to gather, and the timeline guide explains each step from application to card in the mail.
North Carolina FNS FAQs
What day are North Carolina food stamps deposited?
Odd days only, from the 3rd to the 21st, based on the last digit of your SSN: 1→3rd, 2→5th, 3→7th, 4→9th, 5→11th, 6→13th, 7→15th, 8→17th, 9→19th, 0→21st. With no SSN on file, benefits load on the 3rd.
What is the income limit for FNS in North Carolina?
North Carolina uses BBCE at 200% of the federal poverty level with no asset test — about $2,660 a month gross for one person and roughly $4,554 for three in FY2027, before the 20% earned income disregard.
How much does a family of 4 get in FNS benefits?
Up to $1,023 per month in FY2027 if net income is at or near zero. Working families with deductions typically receive less than the maximum but more than they'd expect — run your numbers through the calculator above.
Can I use North Carolina EBT in other states?
Yes. Your North Carolina EBT card works at any authorized retailer in all 50 states, plus online at Walmart and Amazon. Just remember some states don't allow restaurant meals — NC itself has a limited Restaurant Meals program only for elderly, disabled, and homeless recipients.
Related Guides
FY2027 figures effective October 1, 2026 from USDA COLA guidance; NC policy per NCDHHS. County DSS offices make final determinations.
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