The Calculator is in an Excel workbook. By filling out the yellow boxes in the spreadsheet, you can estimate whether your client's household is eligible to receive food stamps in Massachusetts. Note that this calculator is intended as a convenience tool only and not a replacement for your own judgment. We do not guarantee the accuracy of its results, nor do we recommend relying on it solely without doing your own calculations. Please report any incorrect results to Pat Baker.

Remember to check this page frequently for updates to the Calculator.

Last update: October 7, 2008

Instructions

• You must be on a computer with Microsoft Excel loaded on the computer;
• Note: Several other spreadsheet software programs may also be able to use this file. We have confirmed that the latest version of OpenOffice is fully compatible. OpenOffice is free and can be downloaded here.
• If you have WordPerfect installed and you're having trouble using the food stamp calculator, a program called "QuikView Plus" may be interfering. You can either remove QuikView Plus from your computer (it's of questionable utility anyway) or follow the instructions below to download and save the file to your computer.
  
• If you are, you should click on the link below.
• A message box will appear asking you whether you want to save the file or open it.
  • Select "Open" to open the calculator in Excel directly. See the "WordPerfect" note above if you're having trouble with the calculator.
    
  • Select "Save" to store the calculator on your hard drive. Choose a location on your own computer where you want the file stored, then after it is saved open Excel and open the file from wherever you saved it. Do not save the calculator after using it this way or you may end up mixing data among different clients.

There is also a web-based step-by-step eligibility calculator at Project Bread's gettingfoodstamps.org site which may be simpler for food stamp recipients to use.

most recent changes

• 2008-10-7: updated gross, net income tests, FY09 federal allotments, updated asset tests which no longer apply to most households, removed dependent care deduction cap
• 2008-7-14:  Updated BayState Cap utility deduction
• 2008-4-9:  Updated medical deduction; updated utility deduction
• 2008-1-24: Updated 200% federal poverty gross income test for families with chilldren and other categorically eligible households.
• 2007-11-27:  Technical correction.
• 2007-10-02: Updated gross, net income tests, FY08 federal allotments, shelter deduction, standard utility allowances and standard deducation for larger households, all effective October 1, 2007.