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Benefits in Alabama
2026 income limits and how to apply for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other help in Alabama. A family of four can earn up to $3,575 a month before taxes and still meet the SNAP gross income test.
- People below poverty
- 772,360
- 15.6% of residents (ACS 2020-2024)
- Median household income
- $63,999
- ACS 2020-2024
- Medicaid expansion
- No
- Adult coverage is limited
- Poverty guideline, 4 people
- $33,000
- 2026, 48 states and D.C.
Food assistance income limits in Alabama
SNAP limits apply 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027. WIC limits apply 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027.
| Household size | Poverty guideline (2026, yearly) | SNAP gross (monthly) | SNAP net (monthly) | WIC (yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $29,526 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $40,034 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $50,542 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $61,050 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $71,558 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $82,066 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $92,574 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $103,082 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Health, energy and phone income limits in Alabama
Alabama has not expanded Medicaid, so the 138% adult limit does not apply; children, pregnant women and some parents can still qualify. LIHEAP shows the federal maximum; Alabama may use a different limit.
| Household size | Lifeline (yearly) | LIHEAP max (yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,546 | $23,940 |
| 2 people | $29,214 | $32,460 |
| 3 people | $36,882 | $40,980 |
| 4 people | $44,550 | $49,500 |
| 5 people | $52,218 | $58,020 |
| 6 people | $59,886 | $66,540 |
| 7 people | $67,554 | $75,060 |
| 8 people | $75,222 | $83,580 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Where to apply in Alabama
Official finders that list the agency for your state
- State agencies
- Alabama on USA.gov
- Medicaid
- Apply through HealthCare.gov
- SSDI
- Apply at SSA.gov
- LIHEAP
- Find your LIHEAP office
- Unemployment
- Find your state unemployment office
- Pell Grant
- Start the FAFSA
- Section 8
- Find your public housing agency
Food
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramSNAP, once called food stamps, gives monthly benefits on an EBT card to buy groceries at authorized stores.
- WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenWIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under 5.
Health care
- MedicaidMedicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with low incomes, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and people with disabilities.
- CHIP: Children's Health Insurance ProgramCHIP gives low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Some states also cover pregnant women.
Income
- SSI: Supplemental Security IncomeSSI pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind or disabled, including children with disabilities.
- SSDI: Social Security Disability InsuranceSSDI pays monthly benefits to people who cannot work because of a disability expected to last at least a year or result in death, and who have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security.
Utilities and phone
Housing
School and work
- Unemployment: Unemployment InsuranceUnemployment insurance replaces part of your wages for a limited time if you lose your job through no fault of your own.
- Pell Grant: Federal Pell GrantsPell Grants help undergraduate students with financial need pay for college. Unlike loans, they usually do not need to be repaid.
Households getting benefits by county in Alabama
Share of households that received each benefit in the last 12 months (ACS 2020-2024). Select a county for details.
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| County | Households getting SNAP | SSI | Social Security | Cash assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autauga County | 9.2% | 5.6% | 35.8% | 1.0% |
| Baldwin County | 6.7% | 4.4% | 39.4% | 1.0% |
| Barbour County | 21.3% | 8.6% | 45.7% | 1.9% |
| Bibb County | 20.7% | 6.9% | 41.5% | 8.5% |
| Blount County | 12.3% | 7.5% | 39.4% | 2.4% |
| Bullock County | 34.0% | 9.6% | 49.2% | 0.2% |
| Butler County | 17.3% | 10.1% | 43.0% | 1.3% |
| Calhoun County | 17.9% | 7.6% | 39.1% | 2.0% |
| Chambers County | 16.3% | 8.9% | 44.3% | 1.4% |
| Cherokee County | 11.0% | 6.5% | 46.1% | 2.6% |
| Chilton County | 14.6% | 6.8% | 37.7% | 2.5% |
| Choctaw County | 15.7% | 8.9% | 47.2% | 2.3% |
| Clarke County | 23.5% | 9.7% | 44.4% | 0.9% |
| Clay County | 14.2% | 6.9% | 43.5% | 4.9% |
| Cleburne County | 14.5% | 5.3% | 41.0% | 2.4% |
| Coffee County | 11.5% | 5.0% | 36.0% | 1.0% |
| Colbert County | 14.5% | 6.1% | 38.0% | 0.5% |
| Conecuh County | 20.0% | 13.1% | 56.8% | 2.5% |
| Coosa County | 16.2% | 7.9% | 46.2% | 0.6% |
| Covington County | 14.2% | 5.2% | 44.7% | 1.7% |
| Crenshaw County | 20.8% | 7.0% | 43.1% | 2.2% |
| Cullman County | 10.0% | 6.2% | 36.9% | 0.9% |
| Dale County | 18.4% | 9.0% | 37.0% | 1.7% |
| Dallas County | 36.2% | 16.4% | 43.3% | 19.2% |
| DeKalb County | 17.7% | 6.3% | 38.5% | 1.6% |
| Elmore County | 10.5% | 4.2% | 35.2% | 1.6% |
| Escambia County | 15.2% | 9.2% | 43.9% | 1.1% |
| Etowah County | 15.7% | 7.4% | 38.6% | 2.0% |
| Fayette County | 18.0% | 6.0% | 43.1% | 1.9% |
| Franklin County | 20.0% | 5.8% | 37.2% | 0.4% |
| Geneva County | 18.3% | 10.2% | 43.9% | 1.3% |
| Greene County | 31.9% | 15.5% | 49.8% | 1.5% |
| Hale County | 27.8% | 10.7% | 44.5% | 2.4% |
| Henry County | 14.1% | 8.6% | 41.9% | 1.6% |
| Houston County | 16.1% | 6.6% | 34.7% | 1.3% |
| Jackson County | 12.3% | 6.6% | 41.1% | 1.4% |
| Jefferson County | 14.2% | 6.9% | 31.3% | 1.7% |
| Lamar County | 20.5% | 11.3% | 44.7% | 3.3% |
| Lauderdale County | 10.0% | 5.0% | 38.3% | 1.2% |
| Lawrence County | 15.1% | 7.7% | 40.6% | 0.7% |
| Lee County | 10.0% | 4.1% | 27.3% | 0.9% |
| Limestone County | 8.8% | 5.7% | 30.4% | 0.9% |
| Lowndes County | 28.9% | 16.1% | 39.5% | 2.9% |
| Macon County | 24.1% | 10.9% | 39.3% | 0.6% |
| Madison County | 7.6% | 3.8% | 27.4% | 1.8% |
| Marengo County | 23.6% | 12.1% | 41.9% | 0.9% |
| Marion County | 17.3% | 10.6% | 44.3% | 2.1% |
| Marshall County | 12.4% | 5.6% | 37.1% | 1.5% |
| Mobile County | 17.3% | 6.7% | 36.1% | 0.9% |
| Monroe County | 14.0% | 9.2% | 48.0% | 1.3% |
| Montgomery County | 20.2% | 6.4% | 33.0% | 1.1% |
| Morgan County | 12.2% | 7.1% | 35.4% | 1.5% |
| Perry County | 33.5% | 21.9% | 47.0% | 21.7% |
| Pickens County | 18.5% | 9.7% | 43.6% | 1.5% |
| Pike County | 17.1% | 6.9% | 32.2% | 1.4% |
| Randolph County | 18.8% | 8.4% | 39.5% | 5.0% |
| Russell County | 20.1% | 9.6% | 32.8% | 1.4% |
| Shelby County | 4.6% | 2.8% | 29.8% | 0.7% |
| St. Clair County | 11.0% | 5.6% | 37.4% | 1.4% |
| Sumter County | 30.5% | 11.9% | 45.5% | 1.5% |
| Talladega County | 17.0% | 8.2% | 38.2% | 0.7% |
| Tallapoosa County | 13.3% | 7.2% | 43.2% | 0.9% |
| Tuscaloosa County | 10.9% | 4.3% | 28.2% | 2.8% |
| Walker County | 14.3% | 7.8% | 41.5% | 1.6% |
| Washington County | 13.8% | 7.3% | 40.8% | 1.4% |
| Wilcox County | 37.0% | 11.0% | 46.3% | 2.8% |
| Winston County | 14.6% | 7.7% | 41.9% | 2.4% |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SNAP income limit in Alabama?
- For 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027, a household of one in Alabama can have gross monthly income up to $1,729, and a household of four up to $3,575. Net income after deductions must be at or below $1,330 and $2,750. Households with an elderly or disabled member only need to meet the net limit.
- Did Alabama expand Medicaid?
- No. As of August 2026, Alabama is one of 10 states that have not adopted the Medicaid expansion, so most adults without children or disabilities do not qualify on income alone.
- What is the WIC income limit in Alabama?
- A household of four in Alabama can earn up to $61,050 a year (185% of the 2026 poverty guidelines) to qualify for WIC. A pregnant woman counts as two or more people.
- How many people in Alabama live below the poverty line?
- About 772,360 people in Alabama, or 15.6% of residents, had incomes below the poverty level in the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.