# Benefits cliff in Iowa

In Iowa, a family of three loses SNAP above $3,643 a month in gross income (160% of the poverty line), its children's Medicaid or CHIP above $83,872 a year (307%), and the ACA premium tax credit above $109,280 a year (400%).

Check your own household with the free [calculator on this page](https://rulecost.com/paycheck/benefits-cliff/iowa/), prefilled for Iowa.

| People | SNAP gross limit / month | Children’s coverage / year | ACA credit / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,128 | — | $63,840 |
| 2 | $2,886 | $66,435 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $3,643 | $83,872 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $4,400 | $101,310 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $5,158 | $118,748 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $5,915 | $136,185 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $6,672 | $153,623 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $7,430 | $171,060 | $222,880 |

SNAP: Iowa uses broad-based categorical eligibility (160% of the poverty line; no asset limit).

Income limits only — SNAP also has a net income test and deductions, and households with someone 60+ or disabled are not subject to the gross limit. Not an eligibility decision.

## Sources

- [SNAP Fiscal Year 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/cola), USDA Food and Nutrition Service
- [Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) States Chart, June 2026](https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/BBCE-States-Chart-June2026.pdf), USDA Food and Nutrition Service
- [Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Children as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level](https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/medicaid-and-chip-income-eligibility-limits-for-children-as-a-percent-of-the-federal-poverty-level/), KFF