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Benefits in Tennessee
2026 income limits and how to apply for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other help in Tennessee. 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
- 950,340
- 13.8% of residents (ACS 2020-2024)
- Median household income
- $69,595
- 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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee
Tennessee 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; Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Official finders that list the agency for your state
- State agencies
- Tennessee 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 Tennessee
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County | 11.9% | 7.0% | 38.6% | 3.0% |
| Bedford County | 10.2% | 5.7% | 31.3% | 2.6% |
| Benton County | 15.8% | 7.4% | 42.1% | 2.2% |
| Bledsoe County | 18.1% | 10.0% | 42.9% | 2.5% |
| Blount County | 5.9% | 4.0% | 37.7% | 1.3% |
| Bradley County | 11.7% | 4.9% | 37.2% | 1.6% |
| Campbell County | 18.5% | 10.5% | 44.5% | 7.6% |
| Cannon County | 10.4% | 5.4% | 36.2% | 2.4% |
| Carroll County | 12.5% | 8.3% | 39.4% | 3.1% |
| Carter County | 14.3% | 6.6% | 43.8% | 4.9% |
| Cheatham County | 5.9% | 4.2% | 30.5% | 1.5% |
| Chester County | 13.3% | 3.7% | 41.1% | 1.2% |
| Claiborne County | 14.8% | 8.2% | 42.7% | 4.0% |
| Clay County | 25.2% | 11.3% | 48.5% | 2.5% |
| Cocke County | 18.8% | 8.1% | 43.8% | 1.8% |
| Coffee County | 11.7% | 5.9% | 36.7% | 2.2% |
| Crockett County | 13.5% | 7.1% | 35.1% | 2.3% |
| Cumberland County | 11.3% | 6.2% | 52.8% | 1.8% |
| Davidson County | 8.3% | 3.7% | 21.2% | 2.1% |
| Decatur County | 17.2% | 5.5% | 44.6% | 3.8% |
| DeKalb County | 13.2% | 10.8% | 39.1% | 3.4% |
| Dickson County | 9.3% | 5.6% | 33.3% | 2.6% |
| Dyer County | 15.8% | 6.6% | 33.1% | 1.8% |
| Fayette County | 9.7% | 6.6% | 37.7% | 0.9% |
| Fentress County | 22.5% | 11.2% | 46.0% | 3.4% |
| Franklin County | 8.3% | 4.8% | 40.4% | 1.1% |
| Gibson County | 16.5% | 8.2% | 33.2% | 2.6% |
| Giles County | 11.4% | 5.2% | 38.2% | 3.5% |
| Grainger County | 14.0% | 7.2% | 46.0% | 1.4% |
| Greene County | 11.7% | 7.9% | 44.8% | 2.7% |
| Grundy County | 16.8% | 9.7% | 42.2% | 3.2% |
| Hamblen County | 14.0% | 7.1% | 37.0% | 1.9% |
| Hamilton County | 9.4% | 3.8% | 32.2% | 1.5% |
| Hancock County | 34.8% | 13.4% | 48.3% | 8.8% |
| Hardeman County | 19.3% | 11.7% | 42.4% | 2.5% |
| Hardin County | 14.9% | 5.6% | 47.3% | 2.2% |
| Hawkins County | 12.9% | 5.7% | 45.7% | 1.3% |
| Haywood County | 24.7% | 10.1% | 41.1% | 3.3% |
| Henderson County | 16.5% | 5.7% | 42.1% | 3.0% |
| Henry County | 13.1% | 6.0% | 45.5% | 1.5% |
| Hickman County | 10.1% | 7.7% | 36.9% | 1.6% |
| Houston County | 15.4% | 6.3% | 44.2% | 2.3% |
| Humphreys County | 11.5% | 8.0% | 42.7% | 2.6% |
| Jackson County | 15.8% | 7.3% | 43.7% | 3.1% |
| Jefferson County | 10.8% | 5.5% | 40.3% | 1.1% |
| Johnson County | 15.1% | 6.1% | 46.1% | 4.5% |
| Knox County | 8.9% | 3.8% | 29.2% | 2.0% |
| Lake County | 31.8% | 9.3% | 37.5% | 3.7% |
| Lauderdale County | 22.7% | 9.3% | 33.8% | 3.1% |
| Lawrence County | 14.1% | 6.1% | 37.4% | 2.8% |
| Lewis County | 18.7% | 6.7% | 44.6% | 4.0% |
| Lincoln County | 8.6% | 5.4% | 35.0% | 2.5% |
| Loudon County | 6.4% | 4.8% | 44.5% | 1.3% |
| Macon County | 17.7% | 8.8% | 36.3% | 3.0% |
| Madison County | 16.3% | 7.9% | 34.1% | 1.2% |
| Marion County | 14.6% | 7.4% | 41.9% | 1.0% |
| Marshall County | 6.6% | 5.0% | 36.0% | 1.9% |
| Maury County | 6.3% | 4.6% | 31.9% | 2.1% |
| McMinn County | 13.5% | 6.6% | 43.2% | 1.6% |
| McNairy County | 15.2% | 4.9% | 44.7% | 2.2% |
| Meigs County | 15.8% | 7.9% | 41.8% | 1.6% |
| Monroe County | 15.5% | 9.4% | 48.9% | 1.3% |
| Montgomery County | 8.1% | 5.2% | 21.5% | 2.4% |
| Moore County | 6.7% | 5.3% | 39.2% | 2.8% |
| Morgan County | 14.4% | 10.4% | 43.9% | 1.6% |
| Obion County | 15.6% | 7.1% | 41.0% | 1.2% |
| Overton County | 11.8% | 5.8% | 42.9% | 1.0% |
| Perry County | 13.3% | 4.5% | 37.3% | 2.6% |
| Pickett County | 17.4% | 8.1% | 46.8% | 1.3% |
| Polk County | 14.0% | 4.8% | 44.8% | 1.1% |
| Putnam County | 9.3% | 4.2% | 32.6% | 2.2% |
| Rhea County | 17.0% | 8.2% | 40.7% | 1.7% |
| Roane County | 13.1% | 6.2% | 43.3% | 3.0% |
| Robertson County | 7.4% | 3.8% | 31.7% | 1.9% |
| Rutherford County | 7.0% | 3.6% | 22.4% | 1.7% |
| Scott County | 22.5% | 11.5% | 39.6% | 10.8% |
| Sequatchie County | 16.5% | 6.5% | 43.7% | 3.4% |
| Sevier County | 7.2% | 4.8% | 37.5% | 3.0% |
| Shelby County | 15.5% | 6.5% | 28.0% | 1.7% |
| Smith County | 9.8% | 4.9% | 36.7% | 2.2% |
| Stewart County | 11.1% | 7.6% | 42.9% | 3.3% |
| Sullivan County | 13.1% | 7.1% | 42.3% | 2.0% |
| Sumner County | 6.1% | 3.8% | 30.3% | 1.5% |
| Tipton County | 12.4% | 6.6% | 34.2% | 1.8% |
| Trousdale County | 10.9% | 4.1% | 28.6% | 1.5% |
| Unicoi County | 13.6% | 5.5% | 44.9% | 5.3% |
| Union County | 14.8% | 6.8% | 44.2% | 1.6% |
| Van Buren County | 18.6% | 3.1% | 46.6% | 1.8% |
| Warren County | 15.0% | 7.1% | 36.8% | 1.7% |
| Washington County | 8.6% | 5.5% | 35.7% | 1.8% |
| Wayne County | 17.0% | 6.6% | 44.9% | 4.2% |
| Weakley County | 14.0% | 6.8% | 36.1% | 1.6% |
| White County | 13.0% | 7.2% | 43.4% | 1.9% |
| Williamson County | 1.9% | 3.0% | 25.8% | 0.6% |
| Wilson County | 5.3% | 3.1% | 28.6% | 1.1% |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SNAP income limit in Tennessee?
- For 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027, a household of one in Tennessee 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 Tennessee expand Medicaid?
- No. As of August 2026, Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
- A household of four in Tennessee 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 Tennessee live below the poverty line?
- About 950,340 people in Tennessee, or 13.8% of residents, had incomes below the poverty level in the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.