Indiana SNAP is run by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) through its Division of Family Resources (DFR). Apply online at the FSSA Benefits Portal (fssabenefits.in.gov), call 800-403-0864, or visit a local DFR office. Indiana uses the federal 130% of poverty gross income limit, $3,575 a month for a family of four from October 1, 2026, and, unlike most states, still checks your savings: the asset limit is $3,000, or $4,500 if someone in your home is 60 or older or disabled.
Benefits come on a Hoosier Works EBT card, loaded between the 5th and 23rd based on the first letter of your last name. Two other things make Indiana different in 2026: a soda and candy ban that started January 1, and no Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for kids. Many Hoosiers still say “food stamps,” and FSSA’s own pages use both names.
Indiana SNAP at a glance
| Indiana | |
|---|---|
| Run by | FSSA, Division of Family Resources (DFR) |
| Apply online | FSSA Benefits Portal: fssabenefits.in.gov |
| Phone | 800-403-0864 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET) |
| Gross income limit | 130% of poverty |
| Asset test | Yes: $3,000, or $4,500 with a member 60+ or disabled |
| EBT card | Hoosier Works card |
| EBT help | 877-768-5098, 24/7; connectebt.com |
| Deposit days | 5th to 23rd, by first letter of last name |
| Soda and candy | Not allowed with SNAP since Jan 1, 2026 (Smart SNAP waiver) |
| Summer EBT 2026 | Not offered |
Indiana SNAP income limits from October 1, 2026
These are the federal figures for the 48 states, which Indiana follows. They apply from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. (FSSA’s website may still show the slightly lower limits that ran through September 2026.)
| Household size | Gross monthly limit (130%) | Net limit (100%) | Maximum benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
Gross income is everything before taxes. Net income is what’s left after deductions like 20% of earnings, the standard deduction, child care, child support you pay, and high housing costs. Households with a member 60 or older or disabled skip the gross test and only need to pass the net test. If everyone in your household gets SSI or TANF cash, income limits don’t apply at all. Full federal rules: SNAP income limits.
Indiana still has an asset test
This is the biggest way Indiana differs from its neighbors. Most states dropped the savings check years ago (Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky don’t count assets for most households). Indiana counts them.
FSSA can deny your case if your countable resources are over $3,000, or $4,500 when someone in your home is 60 or older or disabled. Countable resources mean things like cash, checking and savings accounts. Your home and most retirement accounts don’t count.
Indiana used to allow up to $5,000. A state law lowered the limit to the federal levels in July 2026, and the state estimated about 3,000 households would lose benefits because of it. So if you were on Indiana SNAP before and got a closure notice about resources, this change is likely why. The same law also changed how income of ineligible household members is counted, which can lower some families’ benefits.
Practical tip: report your bank balances accurately at application and at renewal. If your savings dip back under the limit later, you can reapply.
How to apply for Indiana food stamps
- Online at the FSSA Benefits Portal, fssabenefits.in.gov. Create an account, answer the questions, and upload documents. You can also use the portal to check your case and report changes later.
- Phone or in person. Call 800-403-0864, or find your county’s office with DFR’s office locator on in.gov/fssa. Paper applications are accepted at any DFR office.
- Interview. A DFR worker goes over your household, income and resources, usually by phone. Keep your phone on and answer unknown numbers around your scheduled time; see SNAP interview tips.
- Send proof. After the interview you get a verification form with a due date. Send everything by that date or your case can be denied.
- Decision within 30 days, or within 7 days if you qualify for expedited SNAP (gross monthly income under $150 and $100 or less in cash and bank accounts).
Documents FSSA asks for
- Names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
- Proof of income (pay stubs) and resources (bank statements) for each person
- Proof of court-ordered child support you pay
- Rent or mortgage and utility bills
- Medical expenses, if a member is 60+ or disabled
- Child care or adult care costs
How much Indiana SNAP pays: an example
Your benefit is the maximum for your household size minus 30% of your net income. Here’s a mom in Fort Wayne with two kids, using the figures that start October 1, 2026:
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay from her job | $1,800 |
| Minus 20% earned income deduction ($360) | $1,440 |
| Minus standard deduction for 3 people ($217) | $1,223 |
| Shelter costs (rent plus utilities as counted by DFR) | $1,100 |
| Excess shelter: $1,100 minus half of $1,223 ($611.50) | $488.50 |
| Net income: $1,223 minus $488.50 | $734.50 |
| 30% of net income, rounded up | $221 |
| Monthly SNAP: $808 maximum minus $221 | $587 |
Her gross pay ($1,800) is under Indiana’s $2,960 limit for three, and her net income is under $2,277, so she passes both tests. She also needs bank balances under $3,000. Child care costs would lower her net income further and raise the benefit. Full math: SNAP benefit amounts.
Indiana EBT deposit schedule: Hoosier Works card
Indiana loads SNAP between the 5th and the 23rd of each month, based on the first letter of your last name:
| First letter of last name | Deposit day |
|---|---|
| A, B | 5th |
| C, D | 7th |
| E, F, G | 9th |
| H, I | 11th |
| J, K, L | 13th |
| M, N | 15th |
| O, P, Q, R | 17th |
| S | 19th |
| T, U, V | 21st |
| W, X, Y, Z | 23rd |
TANF cash benefits load on the 1st. Activate a new Hoosier Works card and set your PIN at 877-768-5098 (24/7), and check your balance there or at connectebt.com. Your first replacement card each year is free; after that each one costs $1, and cards usually arrive within a day or two. See how to replace a lost EBT card and the EBT deposit schedule for every state. Federal replacement of stolen (skimmed) benefits ended in December 2024, so guard your PIN; see stolen SNAP benefits.
No soda or candy: Indiana’s Smart SNAP rules
Since January 1, 2026, Indiana SNAP can’t buy soft drinks or candy. Governor Braun signed Executive Order 25-55 in April 2025, USDA approved the waiver on May 22, 2025, and FSSA calls the program Smart SNAP.
What the state’s definitions exclude at the register:
- Sugary drinks: non-alcoholic beverages with natural or artificial sweeteners. That covers regular soda and most sweetened teas, sports drinks and energy drinks.
- Candy: preparations of sugar, honey or other sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts or flavorings, sold as bars, drops or pieces.
Still allowed with EBT: drinks that contain milk or milk substitutes (soy, rice and similar), drinks sweetened only with fruit or vegetable juice, and candy-type items that need refrigeration (like some ice cream bars). Registers block barred items automatically, so you’d pay for them another way. Indiana was one of the first states with an active restriction; see the state-by-state soda and candy list.
Everything else follows federal rules: fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, snack foods and seeds are fine; alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, paper goods and hot prepared food are not. Indiana isn’t in the Restaurant Meals Program.
Work rules, renewals and kids’ benefits
Work rules. Adults 18 to 64 without a child under 14 at home generally need 80 hours a month of work, volunteering or training, or SNAP is limited to 3 months in 3 years. Details and exemptions: SNAP work requirements and SNAP Employment and Training.
Renewals. FSSA mails a notice before your certification period ends. Renew in the FSSA Benefits Portal, by mail, or at a DFR office, and expect another interview and fresh proof of income and bank balances. See SNAP recertification.
No SUN Bucks. Indiana is not taking part in Summer EBT in 2026, so families don’t get the $120 per child that 39 states and DC offer. Free summer meal sites still operate; see Summer EBT.
Free phone. SNAP qualifies your household for Lifeline, up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet, and many Indiana providers offer a free phone with it. See free phone with food stamps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for food stamps in Indiana? Apply online at the FSSA Benefits Portal (fssabenefits.in.gov), call 800-403-0864, or visit a DFR office. Then do a phone interview and send in your proof. Most decisions come within 30 days.
What are the Indiana SNAP income limits? From October 1, 2026: $1,729 gross a month for one person, $2,345 for two, $2,960 for three, $3,575 for four. Households with a member 60+ or disabled only need to pass the lower net test.
Does Indiana have an asset limit for SNAP? Yes. Unlike most states, Indiana counts resources: $3,000, or $4,500 if a member is 60 or older or disabled. The limit dropped from $5,000 in July 2026.
What day does Indiana EBT deposit? Between the 5th and 23rd, by the first letter of your last name. A and B load on the 5th; W through Z load on the 23rd. TANF cash loads on the 1st.
Can I buy soda or candy with EBT in Indiana? No. Since January 1, 2026, Indiana’s Smart SNAP waiver blocks sugary drinks and candy. Milk-based drinks, juice-sweetened drinks and refrigerated treats are still allowed.
Who do I call about my Hoosier Works card? Call EBT customer service at 877-768-5098, any time, for PINs, balances and replacements. For your case or an address change, call DFR at 800-403-0864.
Does Indiana offer SUN Bucks? No. Indiana skipped Summer EBT in 2026.
More states and topics: SNAP and EBT guides. Every state’s portal: how to apply for SNAP. Nearby states: Ohio SNAP, Illinois SNAP, Michigan food assistance.
Sources: Indiana FSSA DFR: SNAP food assistance, Indiana FSSA DFR: SNAP income limits, Indiana FSSA DFR: Hoosier Works card FAQs, Indiana FSSA DFR: Smart SNAP, Indiana FSSA DFR: Find my local DFR office, USDA: Indiana SNAP food restriction waiver, USDA: Broad-based categorical eligibility, USDA: FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments, Mirror Indy: Indiana Medicaid and SNAP changes, Indiana Capital Chronicle: SNAP ban on sugary drinks and candy