Hawaii SNAP Food Stamps for Grandparents Raising a Grandchild

SNAP Counts Your Whole Household — But Hawaii's Rules Are Generous

If you are raising a grandchild in Hawaii and wondering about food assistance, SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) works on different rules than the child-only TANF grant. Where TANF ignores the caregiver's income, SNAP evaluates everyone in the household who purchases and prepares food together.

That sounds like a problem for grandparents on fixed incomes, but Hawaii's eligibility rules are more generous than most states — and the allotments are substantially higher to account for island food costs.

The "Purchase and Prepare" Household Rule

BESSD defines your SNAP household as all individuals who live together and customarily buy and prepare food as a unit. A grandchild who purchases and prepares meals separately may be considered a separate household unless a mandatory-inclusion rule applies. In practice, most grandparent-grandchild households share meals and are counted together.

Certain people must be included regardless of meal preparation: spouses; people under 22 living with a parent or stepparent; and children under 18 who live with and are under the parental control of a household member other than their parent.

Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)

Hawaii applies BBCE rules that significantly expand who qualifies. Under BBCE, the gross income limit rises to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and the standard asset test is eliminated. You do not need to worry about your savings account, vehicle, or home equity.

As of February 1, 2025, Hawaii's BBCE households are not subject to the net income test.

Hawaii SNAP Allotments Are Higher Than the Mainland

Because grocery costs on the islands are well above national averages, Hawaii receives adjusted maximum allotments. For FY2027 (October 2026 through September 2027):

• 1 person: up to $496/month
• 2 persons: up to $910/month
• 3 persons: up to $1,307/month
• 4 persons: up to $1,655/month

Benefits are loaded monthly onto a Kokua EBT Card.

Expedited Processing

If your household has less than $150 in gross monthly income and liquid resources of $100 or less, or if your combined rent and utilities exceed your gross income plus liquid resources, you qualify for expedited SNAP processing. BESSD must make benefits available within 7 calendar days.

No Child Support Requirement for SNAP

Unlike TANF, SNAP does not require cooperation with the Child Support Enforcement Agency. You can apply for food benefits without assigning child support rights or establishing paternity. This is a meaningful difference for caregivers who want food assistance without triggering enforcement actions against the child's parents.

How to Apply

Apply online at pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov or submit a paper Form DHS 1240 at any county processing center. The same form covers both TANF and SNAP — you can apply for both programs simultaneously. Bring proof of identity, residency, household composition, and income documentation.

For a detailed walkthrough of the SNAP application, the income calculation, and the deductions available to grandparent households, see the Hawaii kinship financial help guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I already get child-only TANF, does that help with SNAP? Receiving TANF does not automatically create a separate SNAP household for the child. However, having a TANF case demonstrates household composition and can simplify the SNAP application process.

Can my grandchild qualify for SNAP as a separate household? Only if the child customarily purchases and prepares meals independently and no mandatory-inclusion rule applies. A child under 18 who lives with and is under your parental control must be included in your household even if they prepare meals separately.

Do I need to report income changes? Yes. Households must report changes that exceed program thresholds, including changes in income, address, and household composition, within 10 calendar days.

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