Hawaii’s EBT card is called the Kokua Card, and it’s how the state delivers SNAP food assistance through the Department of Human Services Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD).1Department of Human Services. General EBT Card Information and Frequently Asked Question and Answers A single-person household can qualify with gross monthly income up to $3,000 and receive up to $506 a month in benefits. Hawaii sets its income threshold at 200% of the federal poverty level, one of the most generous in the country, which reflects the state’s food and housing costs.2Food and Nutrition Service. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
Who Qualifies
You must be a Hawaii resident and either a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen admitted for permanent residency.3Department of Human Services. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Because Hawaii uses broad-based categorical eligibility, there is no asset limit on the household. What matters is income.
Eligibility runs on two tests. Your gross monthly income (before deductions) must fall at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. If it does, your net monthly income (after deductions for shelter, dependent care, and other allowable expenses) must be at or below 100% of the poverty level. The deductions do most of the work, and they can decide whether a borderline household qualifies.
2026 Income Limits by Household Size
These figures took effect October 1, 2025, and run through the current federal fiscal year:3Department of Human Services. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- 1 person: $3,000 gross / $1,500 net
- 2 people: $4,054 gross / $2,027 net
- 3 people: $5,110 gross / $2,555 net
- 4 people: $6,164 gross / $3,082 net
- 5 people: $7,220 gross / $3,610 net
- 6 people: $8,274 gross / $4,137 net
- 7 people: $9,330 gross / $4,665 net
- 8 people: $10,384 gross / $5,192 net
- Each additional person: add $1,056 gross / $528 net
If your household’s income before deductions is above the gross figure, you won’t qualify no matter what your expenses look like. If you’re under the gross figure, the state then subtracts allowable deductions to see whether you also fall under the net figure.
How Much You’ll Receive
Your monthly benefit depends on your household’s net income after deductions. The maximum allotments (paid to households with little or no countable income) are:4Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information
- 1 person: $506
- 2 people: $929
- 3 people: $1,334
- 4 people: $1,689
- 5 people: $2,010
- 6 people: $2,415
- 7 people: $2,668
- 8 people: $3,040
- Each additional person: add $371
These allotments are higher than the amounts for the 48 contiguous states because the USDA adjusts for Hawaii’s elevated food costs. Most households receive less than the maximum. The state calculates your benefit by taking the maximum for your household size and subtracting 30% of your net income.
How to Apply
The application is Form DHS-1240, “Application for Financial/SNAP Assistance.”3Department of Human Services. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program You can file online through the BESSD portal at pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov, or print the form and mail or drop it off at your nearest processing center.5Department of Human Services. Benefit, Employment and Support Services
Documents to Gather
Pull your paperwork together before you start:
- Social Security numbers for each household member, and proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
- Recent pay stubs and documentation of any unearned income (Social Security, child support, etc.)
- Rent or mortgage statements, property tax bills, and homeowner’s insurance records
- Utility information (Hawaii uses a Standard Utility Allowance, so you generally don’t need to itemize every bill)6Food and Nutrition Service. Standard Utility Allowances
Report shelter and utility expenses accurately. Those deductions reduce your net income, which can push a borderline household under the eligibility threshold or increase the benefit amount for a household that already qualifies.
The Interview and Decision
After you file, BESSD mails a notice with a scheduled interview.5Department of Human Services. Benefit, Employment and Support Services The interview is required, but it’s usually conducted by phone. A caseworker will verify your income, household composition, and expenses, and may request additional documents.
Standard processing takes up to 30 days from the date you filed.7Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Application Processing Timeliness You’ll then receive a Notice of Decision explaining whether you were approved, the monthly benefit amount, and the length of your certification period.
Expedited Benefits
Households in a financial emergency can get benefits loaded onto a card within seven calendar days. Federal rules provide three qualifying scenarios:8eCFR. 7 CFR 273.2
- Gross monthly income under $150 and liquid assets of $100 or less
- Migrant or seasonal farmworker households with $100 or less in liquid assets
- Combined monthly gross income and liquid assets that fall short of your monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities
The third category catches the most people. Caseworkers should identify expedited eligibility during processing, but flag it on your application if it applies to you.
What You Can Buy With the Kokua Card
The card works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores and markets.1Department of Human Services. General EBT Card Information and Frequently Asked Question and Answers Eligible items include fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and seeds or plants that produce food.9Food and Nutrition Service. What Can SNAP Buy
Federal rules prohibit using benefits for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If a product carries a “Supplement Facts” label rather than a “Nutrition Facts” label, it’s not eligible. Hot foods sold for immediate consumption are also off-limits.
Hawaii also runs Da Bux Double Up Food Bucks, which gives SNAP shoppers a 50% discount on locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating retailers on every major island except Ni’ihau.10DA BUX. DA BUX – 50% Off Local Produce for Hawaii SNAP Shoppers The discount applies automatically when you pay with your Kokua Card.
Managing Your Card
When your card arrives, you’ll create a four-digit PIN. You can set or change it through the ebtEDGE website (ebtEDGE.com), the ebtEDGE mobile app, or by calling customer service.1Department of Human Services. General EBT Card Information and Frequently Asked Question and Answers Treat the PIN like a bank card PIN. Don’t share it, and don’t write it on the card.
The ebtEDGE platform also shows your current balance and transaction history.11Department of Human Services. Hawaii Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program The automated customer service line at 1-888-328-4292 is available 24 hours a day.
When Benefits Post
Hawaii loads benefits on a split schedule based on the first letter of your last name. Last names A through I get benefits on the 3rd of each month; J through Z get them on the 5th. If either date falls on a weekend or holiday, benefits typically post the business day before.
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Cards
Call 1-888-328-4292 as soon as you notice the card is gone or damaged. The current card is deactivated when you report it, and a replacement is mailed within about five to seven days.5Department of Human Services. Benefit, Employment and Support Services Any remaining benefits transfer to the new card automatically.
Card skimming (a device copying your card data at a point-of-sale terminal) has been a growing concern nationwide. Federal authority to replace benefits stolen through skimming or cloning expired on December 20, 2024, so whether replacement is available now depends on whether Congress has renewed it.12Food and Nutrition Service. Replacing Stolen SNAP Benefits – State Plan Approvals Report unauthorized transactions to your local SNAP office right away, and check your balance regularly through ebtEDGE.
Unused Benefits
Unspent benefits roll over month to month, but not forever. After roughly three months without card use, your account may move to offline storage. After about nine months of total inactivity, unused benefits are permanently removed. The state is required to send notice before either step.
Keeping Your Benefits
SNAP is approved for a set certification period, typically six months. Before it ends, you’ll receive a renewal notice with instructions to recertify online at pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov by clicking “Renew My Benefits” and entering the case number from your notice.13Department of Human Services. Financial Assistance / SNAP Application
Miss the recertification deadline and your benefits stop. There is no grace period, and you’ll have to file a completely new application. Set a calendar reminder a month before your certification end date so you have room for any paperwork issues.
Between recertifications, you’re required to report changes to your household circumstances, especially changes in income, household size, or address. Failing to report a change that would have reduced your benefit can produce an overpayment that the state will eventually claw back.
If You’re Denied or Your Benefits Are Reduced
You have the right to request an administrative hearing. Hawaii uses Form DHS 1461, “Request for a Hearing,” available on the DHS website or at any processing center.14Department of Human Services. Administrative Hearing Applications
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the decision was wrong: pay stubs showing miscalculated income, proof of expenses that weren’t counted, or documentation of who lives in your household. If you request the hearing before your current certification period ends, your benefits generally continue at the existing level until a decision is issued. Income miscalculations are among the most common and most correctable reasons households lose benefits, so if the numbers on your notice don’t match your actual finances, challenge them.