Summarize the following:
Certain conditions that could put a strain on your financial situation can be deducted or subtracted from your gross income. Each deduction has its own value, so you need to know that value before you can subtract that deduction.  You can subtract 20% from earned income Subtract a standard deduction of $149 if your household has 1 to 3 people, or a standard deduction of $160 if your household holds 4 and up. You can take a dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education. This value can vary by state. Subtract medical expenses for elderly or disabled members when they are more they $35 monthly and not covered by someone else. Deduct legally owed child support payments. Check with your state to determine if you have a homeless household. You might be able to subtract $143 for shelter costs. Subtract excess shelter costs that are more than half of the household's income after other deductions are taken. After you subtract your deductions, the value left will be your net income. As mentioned before, your net income must be at or below the poverty level for you to qualify. See the “Standard Eligibility” section to determine if your net income falls within the appropriate value range. Regardless of how much you earn, you will be expected to contribute 30 percent of your household net income toward food. Round the value up to the nearest whole number. Subtract 30 percent of your net income from the maximum allotment of benefits for a household of your size to determine your SNAP allotment for each month.  For October 2013, the maximum monthly benefit by household size is:  $200 for households with 1 member $367 for households with 2 members $526 for households with 3 members $668 for households with 4 members $793 for households with 5 members $952 for households with 6 members $1,052 for households with 7 members $150 for each additional person   For November 2013 through September 2013, the maximum monthly benefit by household size is:  $189 for households with 1 member $347 for households with 2 members $497 for households with 3 members $632 for households with 4 members $750 for households with 5 members $900 for households with 6 members $995 for households with 7 members $142 for each additional person
Know which deductions you can claim. Subtract your deductions from your gross income. Calculate your expected contribution toward food. Determine your monthly benefits allotment.