Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Montana program

Money for groceries each month (SNAP)

Monthly grocery money on a card (SNAP).

What it is

Monthly grocery money on a card (SNAP).

SNAP can free up money for treatment costs. Montana removes the separate net-income test for most households. Rent, utilities and eligible medical costs can affect the amount.

Eligibility rules
  • The current expanded-categorical gross-income screen for three people is $4,442 a month for October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Passing that screen is not a benefit award; the office still checks the household and calculates any amount.
  • Expanded-categorical households generally have no resource test, with policy exceptions.
  • Most families are screened at $4,442 a month for three people, with no savings test. A household with an ineligible member uses the lower line of $2,888. (items[0] and [2] give two lines for three people without saying which applies)
What you get
  • Monthly grocery benefits.
  • Benefits available within seven calendar days for households that meet an expedited-service test and the required initial checks.
What it covers
  • Medical costs above $35 monthly can be deducted for an elderly or disabled member, including a child receiving SSI.
If you decide to apply
  1. Your social worker can help you talk with the Office of Public Assistance about food benefits and expedited screening.
  2. Bring this month’s pay, account balances, rent or mortgage costs and utility bills.

1-888-706-1535 — The Office of Public Assistance · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • Expedited tests include income below $150 with no more than $100 cash, or income plus cash below rent and utilities.
  • A verified income drop greater than $50 can raise the following month’s amount.
  • Expedited tests include gross monthly income below $150 with liquid resources of $100 or less; a qualifying destitute migrant or seasonal-worker household with liquid resources of $100 or less; or gross monthly income plus liquid resources below rent or mortgage and utilities. Qualifying households get access within seven calendar days after required initial checks. Ordinary processing is 30 days.
Good to know

Passing the screen is not the amount; rent and utilities set that.

Other details
  • The office can explain whether an exception requires a separate net-income test.

Federal background: SNAP.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could SNAP make room in our budget for treatment costs? How would the amount and reporting work, and could you help us apply if useful?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand grocery help based on our current income and bills.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Apply and report a pay drop straight away.

Your social worker

The social worker can file with you and flag the expedited test.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The Office of Public Assistance.
Ask the agency
“Our income has dropped because of our child’s treatment. Can you screen us for expedited food help, and is there a medical deduction for our child?”

How to apply

First step: Your social worker can help you talk with the Office of Public Assistance about food benefits and expedited screening.

  1. Your social worker can help you talk with the Office of Public Assistance about food benefits and expedited screening.
  2. If you decide to pursue this option, your social worker can help review the household, income, deductions and expedited tests.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Apply at apply.mt.gov or call the helpline; say if you have almost nothing coming in, so the expedited test is used.

What to gather

  • This month’s pay for everyone at home
  • Rent or mortgage and utility costs
  • Bank balances

How long: Seven calendar days on the emergency tests, otherwise the ordinary application clock.

What a yes looks like

A card with a monthly amount, and a review date.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Usually gross income over the line. Come back the month pay drops, and ask about the medical deduction if a child gets SSI.

Watch out

  • If a worker applies a net-income test, ask whether the expanded-categorical rule applies to you.
  • A change in income or allowable expenses can change the benefit; your social worker can help review reporting requirements.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Grocery money each month. Gross limits are $3,526 for two, $4,442 for three, $5,360 for four, $6,276 for five and $7,192 for six.

  • $3,526/month — Household of 2, gross monthly limit (200% of poverty)
  • $4,442/month — Household of 3, gross monthly limit
  • $5,360/month — Household of 4, gross monthly limit
  • $6,276/month — Household of 5, gross monthly limit
  • $7,192/month — Household of 6, gross monthly limit
  • $7 — Expedited benefit access after required initial checks for a qualifying household
  • $35/month — Monthly medical costs above this are deductible for an elderly or disabled member
  • $50/month — A reported income drop larger than this raises the next month

Covers: Monthly food benefit on a card

Legal protection: No savings test for expanded-categorical households · A drop of more than $50 raises the following month once verified

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
gross monthly income at or under 200% of the poverty guideline (SNAP 001)
Resources
no resource test for expanded-categorical households, with exceptions (SNAP 304-1)
Expedited
seven calendar days on the three published tests (SNAP 105-1)

The trap: The state’s own summary page describes a second, net-income test that the expanded-categorical policy expressly removes for most households. If a worker applies a net test, ask which policy they are using.

Where I read this

← Back to your options