Maryland SNAP 2026: How to Apply and How Much You Get

SNAP is a food benefit, not a grant, and MarylandBenefits.gov never charges to apply. Maryland's income limits by household size sit in our Maryland food stamps income guide; this guide covers applying, keeping SNAP and protecting the card.

Maryland SNAP at a Glance (FY2027)

Maryland SNAP reaches more than 680,000 people a month, nearly 270,000 of them children, with an average benefit of $180 per person, according to DHS's H.R. 1 changes page. The Maryland process in one table:

Sources: Maryland DHS SNAP, application, benefits schedule, EBT and SUN Bucks pages; October 2026 income guidelines; IM 25-02; AT 26-15; USDA FNS FY2027 allotments and food restriction waivers.

How Much Maryland SNAP Pays From October 2026

Maryland's maximums rose by $8 to $52 a month on October 1, 2026, depending on household size, according to DHS's October 2026 income guidelines, which list the same figures as USDA's FY2027 table.

Sources: Maryland DHS October 2026 income guidelines (opens in a new tab)/October-2026-Income-Guidelines-revised-8_2026.pdf), effective October 1, 2026; USDA FNS: SNAP FY2027 COLA (opens in a new tab), updated November 4, 2026. Maryland's $50 senior floor replaces the federal $25 minimum for households with a member 60 or older.

How your LDSS gets to your number. Maryland takes the maximum for your household size and subtracts 30% of net income. DHS's eligibility rules (opens in a new tab) list the deductions that shrink net income: a standard deduction, 20% of earnings, dependent care for work or training, child support you pay, shelter and utility costs, and medical costs over $35 a month for members 60 or older or on certain disability payments. Grantsights analysis of USDA's FY2027 deduction table puts that standard deduction at $217 for one to three people, $229 for four, $268 for five and $308 for six or more; DHS's guidelines sheet doesn't print it.

Worked example (hypothetical). Picture one applicant in Hagerstown, a 34-year-old with one child whose two-person household has net income of $700 a month after deductions. The LDSS would issue $562 minus $210, or $352 a month.

The $50 senior floor. According to DHS's IM 25-02 (opens in a new tab), since October 1, 2024 Maryland has topped up any household with a member at least 60 years old whose federal SNAP is under $50. Picture a 71-year-old widow in Salisbury whose federal benefit works out to $30: Maryland adds $20 as a second deposit on the same day, so she gets $50. The system adds it on its own; nobody needs to ask. DHS's release on the change said nearly 30,800 households benefit.

The income screen. DHS's October 2026 guidelines show a gross limit of $2,660 a month for one person, 200% of the poverty line, under Maryland's broad categorical eligibility. The full chart is in the Maryland food stamps income guide, and our SNAP income limits explainer covers the net test.

How to Apply for SNAP in Maryland

Maryland offers 3 routes: online, in person at an LDSS, or by mail or fax. Your best bet is MarylandBenefits.gov (opens in a new tab), because the same account later lets you file the six-month Maryland Benefit Review, upload proof and update your address.

1. Online: apply at MarylandBenefits.gov for SNAP, cash help and medical assistance together.
2. In person: visit any local department of social services (opens in a new tab). DHS's application page (opens in a new tab) says the office will give or mail you an application the same day you ask, and someone else can pick one up for you.
3. By mail or fax: download the fillable application (form 9701), sign it and send it to your LDSS.

Hand in a signed form right away. DHS says the office accepts a signed application the day you turn it in, even if it can't interview you then, and your 30 days run from the date the office receives it. A form with only your name, address and signature still holds your place.

SSI households. If everyone in your home gets or is applying for SSI, DHS says you can apply for SNAP at the Social Security office.

Proof DHS checks. DHS's eligibility rules require verification of income, child support, immigration status, medical costs for members 60 or older or disabled, and anything that looks questionable. Gather pay stubs, award letters, a lease and a recent utility bill before the interview. Under the 2025 federal law, DHS says households with no one 60 or older and no one with a disability must show a utility bill from the last 30 days to keep Maryland's $572 standard utility allowance, or their benefit could drop.

The interview can happen the day you apply; otherwise the LDSS contacts you to schedule it. A case manager goes over the rules and helps fill in anything left blank.

Maryland's 7-Day Review and the 30-Day Promise

Maryland reviews every SNAP application the same day to see whether the household can get benefits within 7 days, according to DHS's application page. DHS's SNAP page adds that a household with little or no money may need only an interview and proof of identity to start.

DHS doesn't spell out the dollar tests, so they come from federal rules in 7 CFR 273.2 (opens in a new tab). A Maryland household qualifies for the 7-day track with:

• Gross monthly income under $150 and cash or bank balances of $100 or less
• Rent or mortgage plus utilities higher than gross income plus cash on hand
• A migrant or seasonal farmworker household with $100 or less that is destitute

Everyone else: 30 days. DHS says approved households should have benefits "no later than 30 days" from the date the office got the application.

Missing the interview is the common mistake. An LDSS call from an unknown number may be your interview. If you miss it, call your local office or the DHS Call Center at 1-800-332-6347 the same day and ask to reschedule while the 30 days are still running.

Noncitizens: two DHS pages disagree. DHS's H.R. 1 changes page (opens in a new tab) says refugees and people granted asylum lose SNAP under the 2025 law and can qualify again once they get a green card, with no waiting period after that. It lists green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and people from Micronesia and the Marshall Islands as still eligible, but gives no start date. The red flag: DHS's eligibility rules page, checked the same day, still lists refugees, asylees, parolees and trafficking victims among those who can qualify. The H.R. 1 page is the newer statement; ask your LDSS how it applies to your household, and apply for citizen children in a mixed-status family either way.

Maryland SNAP Work Rules Since November 1, 2025

Maryland put the 2025 federal work rule changes into effect on November 1, 2025, according to DHS's H.R. 1 changes page. New applicants faced them right away, and people already on SNAP faced them at their next recertification. DHS estimated that up to 80,000 more Marylanders would need to report work hours.

Who's covered: Maryland adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the SNAP household and no exemption. Before the 2025 law, the rule stopped at 54 and parents of any child under 18 were excused.

How to meet it:

• Work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month
• Earn at least $217.50 a week; DHS notes that at Maryland's minimum wage that's 14.5 hours a week
• Take part in a SNAP Employment and Training program
• Combine work, training and volunteering to reach 80 hours

Without one of those or an exemption, SNAP stops after 3 months. You can reapply at any time, but you'll need an exemption or to meet the rule.

Exemptions DHS lists include being under 18 or 65 or older, caring for a child under 14 or an incapacitated person, getting SSDI, SSI, VA disability or TDAP, getting Temporary Cash Assistance, getting or applying for unemployment, being in drug or alcohol treatment, attending school or training at least half time, and being Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian. A health reason you can't work needs a medical professional's signature on DHS Form 500. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness and former foster youth under 24 lost their exemptions under the 2025 law, DHS says.

A red flag on the work rule page. DHS's work rule page (opens in a new tab) still describes a 3-month grace period for dates between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026, a window that has already closed, and lists caring for a child under 6 in one place and living with someone under 14 in another. It doesn't name any waived county. Ask your LDSS which 3-year window your months count against. Our SNAP work requirements guide explains the federal rule behind DHS's pages.

Keeping Maryland SNAP: The Maryland Benefit Review

Maryland households file a Maryland Benefit Review (MBR) halfway through each certification period, according to DHS's AT 26-15 (opens in a new tab), dated March 13, 2026.

How the MBR works in Maryland:

• DHS's system creates it on the first day of the fifth month of your SNAP period.
• It's due before the last day of the sixth month, through the Maryland Benefits Consumer Portal or on paper at any LDSS.
• No interview is needed, though a case manager may call with questions.
• An MBR with no changes, filed online since January 23, 2026 or on paper since March 2026, is processed automatically.
• If it isn't in by the deadline, SNAP closes that day and you must reapply.

Changes to report on the MBR, since your last certification:

• Income changing by more than $100
• Starting, stopping or changing a job when income changes
• Someone joining or leaving the household
• A move and the new shelter costs
• A new legal obligation to pay child support
• Lottery or gambling winnings of $3,500 or more
• Work hours below 20 a week for anyone under the work rule

Recertification. DHS's eligibility rules say the notice after your interview tells you how many months you're approved for and that you must reapply when it ends. Underestimate the MBR and the case closes even if you'd still qualify.

Maryland EBT Card, Deposit Days and Stolen Benefits

Maryland spreads SNAP deposits over 20 days, from the 4th to the 23rd, based on the first 3 letters of your last name, according to DHS's benefits schedule (opens in a new tab):

Source: Maryland DHS benefits schedule, checked November 13, 2026. DHS says the schedule has applied since January 2016; the chip card didn't change anyone's day.

The chip-and-tap card. DHS's EBT updates page (opens in a new tab) says new chip cards went out in July 2026, old stripe cards stopped working on September 30, 2026, and you must set a new PIN when you activate. DHS's October 1, 2026 release says about 85% of nearly 507,000 cards had been activated. If you never got one, call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-2222, 24 hours a day, or visit your LDSS.

Freezing the card. Since May 18, 2026, the ebtEDGE app and cardholder portal let you freeze the card against purchases, online use and ATM withdrawals; DHS's theft prevention page (opens in a new tab) also recommends account alerts and "Lock My Card Everywhere." Download the ebtEDGE app with the egg icon, as DHS advises.

Maryland replaces stolen SNAP with state money. Federal replacement ended for thefts after December 20, 2024, but DHS's AT 25-10 (opens in a new tab), dated February 19, 2025, says benefits stolen on or after December 21, 2024 are replaced with state funds. DHS's stolen benefits data page (opens in a new tab), updated November 13, 2026, counts 103,244 approved claims and $52.7 million replaced since March 2023, including $42.1 million in SNAP.

If your card is drained:

1. Cancel it at 1-800-997-2222 and order a new one.
2. Report the theft on the Stolen Benefits Attestation Form or through the consumer portal, as AT 25-10 directs.
3. Ask your LDSS for help with the claim if you get stuck.
4. Freeze the new card in ebtEDGE between uses.

Red flags in Maryland:

• A text saying your EBT card is blocked and giving a toll-free number to call
• A phone line that asks you to key in your card number and PIN
• A coupon or budgeting app that wants your EBT login
• A website charging a fee to file a MarylandBenefits.gov application
• A loose or bulky keypad at the register

DHS says that if you already gave out your card details, change your PIN at once.

What You Can Buy, SUN Bucks and Other Help

Maryland has 0 food restrictions beyond federal rules: according to USDA's food restriction waiver list (opens in a new tab), updated November 12, 2026, Maryland isn't one of the 23 states with approved soda or candy limits. Hot prepared food, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and household items stay off-limits under federal law.

SUN Bucks in Maryland. DHS's SUN Bucks page (opens in a new tab) says each eligible student gets $40 a month for June, July and August, $120 in all, loaded in the last week of each month. Children who got free or reduced-price school meals, are 5 to 18 in a SNAP, TCA or Medicaid household, or are in foster care are enrolled automatically; others apply year-round at MarylandBenefits.gov. SUN Bucks expire 122 days after they're loaded and can't be reissued, and the card spends them before SNAP. Our Summer EBT guide compares states.

Help Maryland households often pair with SNAP:

• Health coverage: Maryland Medicaid income limits and our Maryland Medicaid guide.
• Energy bills: LIHEAP in Maryland; DHS's guidelines set the Maryland Energy Assistance Program limit at 200% of poverty from July 1, 2026.
• Rent: rental assistance programs.
• The federal rules underneath DHS's pages: our SNAP food stamps guide.

To see other public programs that fit your situation, Grantsights' free eligibility checker sorts them by need; only your local department of social services can approve Maryland SNAP.

What Maryland DHS Doesn't Tell You

Grantsights compared DHS's public SNAP pages with its transmittals, releases and USDA's pages and found 6 gaps worth knowing:

1. Maryland still replaces stolen benefits, but the theft pages don't spell it out. The theft prevention page only says to cancel the card; the state-funds rule sits in AT 25-10 and the claim totals on the data page.
2. The noncitizen lists conflict. The H.R. 1 page narrows eligibility; the eligibility rules page still lists refugees and asylees.
3. The work rule page has a stale window. Its July 2023 to June 2026 grace period dates have passed.
4. The utility bill rule has no start date. DHS says households without an older or disabled member need a bill from the last 30 days, without saying since when.
5. The MBR deadline is a hard stop. A missing review closes SNAP on the last day of month 6, with no grace notice described.
6. Maryland's error rate could cost the state. DHS reports a 13.64% payment error rate for federal fiscal year 2024 and says Maryland could owe 15% of benefit costs, about $240 million a year, from October 1, 2027, which is one reason it's checking utility bills and reviews closely.

Honest friction: most Maryland SNAP cases that end early do so over a missed interview call, an MBR that never got filed, or a household change left off the review. Keep your MarylandBenefits.gov address current and open every LDSS letter the day it arrives.

FAQ: Maryland SNAP Benefits

How much SNAP will I get in Maryland?

Maryland's October 2026 maximum is $808 a month for three and $562 for two, less 30% of net income, with a $50 floor for households with someone 60 or older.

How do I apply for food stamps in Maryland?

At MarylandBenefits.gov, or with a paper form from any local department of social services.

How long does Maryland take to approve SNAP?

No later than 30 days, with a same-day check for 7-day expedited benefits.

What is the Maryland Benefit Review?

Maryland's mid-period SNAP report, created in month 5 and due before the last day of month 6.

Who has to meet Maryland's SNAP work requirement?

Marylanders 18 to 64 without a child under 14 at home, since November 1, 2025, unless exempt.

Does Maryland replace stolen SNAP benefits?

Yes; DHS uses state funds for thefts on or after December 21, 2024, so report it on the attestation form.

Can you buy soda with SNAP in Maryland?

Yes; Maryland has no USDA food restriction waiver on the November 12, 2026 list.

---

Sources

1. Maryland DHS: SNAP Food Supplement Program (opens in a new tab)
2. Maryland DHS: Applying for SNAP (opens in a new tab)
3. Maryland DHS: SNAP Eligibility Rules (opens in a new tab)
4. Maryland DHS: Benefits Schedule (opens in a new tab)
5. Maryland DHS: ABAWD Work Rules (opens in a new tab)
6. Maryland DHS: H.R. 1 (2025) Is Changing SNAP in Maryland (opens in a new tab)
7. Maryland DHS: October 2026 Income Guidelines (opens in a new tab)/October-2026-Income-Guidelines-revised-8_2026.pdf)
8. Maryland DHS: IM 25-02 Minimum State Supplement (opens in a new tab)
9. Maryland DHS: AT 25-10 Stolen Benefits (opens in a new tab)
10. Maryland DHS: AT 26-15 Maryland Benefit Reviews (opens in a new tab)
11. Maryland DHS: Stolen Benefits Data (opens in a new tab)
12. Maryland DHS: EBT Card Updates (opens in a new tab)
13. Maryland DHS: Prevent EBT Theft (opens in a new tab)
14. Maryland DHS: Chip-and-Tap Card Release, Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab)
15. Maryland DHS: SUN Bucks (opens in a new tab)
16. Maryland DHS: Local Offices (opens in a new tab)
17. eCFR: 7 CFR 273.2 (opens in a new tab)
18. USDA FNS: SNAP FY2027 COLA (opens in a new tab)
19. USDA FNS: Food Restriction Waivers (opens in a new tab)