South Carolina’s assistance programs cover food, cash, health care, housing, utilities, and child care, and most run through the Department of Social Services (DSS), with Medicaid handled separately by the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). Eligibility is tied to the federal poverty guidelines, which for 2026 set the poverty line at $15,960 a year for one person and $27,320 for a family of three. The sections below walk through each program, who qualifies, and how to apply.
Food Assistance: SNAP and WIC
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) puts a monthly grocery benefit on an EBT card. Your household’s gross monthly income has to be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. For October 2025 through September 2026, the gross income limits are:
- 1 person: $1,696
- 2 people: $2,292
- 3 people: $2,888
- 4 people: $3,483
- Each additional person: add $596
The benefit itself is calculated on net income, after deductions for housing, child care, and a standard deduction based on household size.1Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility2South Carolina Department of Social Services. SNAP FAQ
Work Requirements for Adults Without Dependents
Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) can get only three months of SNAP in any 36-month window unless they meet a work requirement of at least 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month. Paid work, approved volunteer hours, and training programs all count.3South Carolina Department of Social Services. Upcoming Changes to ABAWD Requirements for SNAP Recipients
South Carolina has exempted several groups from this time limit, including pregnant individuals, veterans, people who are homeless, those medically certified as unfit for work, adults living with a minor child, and young adults who aged out of foster care. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 expanded federal SNAP work requirements to most adults up to age 64, and USDA guidance on how to implement the changes is still coming out, so the specifics in South Carolina may shift.4Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Work Requirements If you lose benefits for not meeting the requirement, 80 hours of work in a 30-day period restores eligibility.3South Carolina Department of Social Services. Upcoming Changes to ABAWD Requirements for SNAP Recipients
WIC for Pregnant Women and Young Children
WIC supports pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to their fifth birthday with food benefits and nutrition education. The income cap is 185% of the federal poverty level, and if you already receive Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP, you automatically meet it.5South Carolina Department of Public Health. About WIC Fathers, grandparents, and other legal guardians can apply on behalf of children in their care.6Food and Nutrition Service. WIC Eligibility
Cash Assistance: Family Independence (TANF)
Family Independence is South Carolina’s version of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It pays a modest monthly cash benefit to low-income families with children. The need standard is set at 50% of the federal poverty level, and gross income must stay below 185% of that need standard. For a family of three, the gross income cutoff is $2,053 a month.7South Carolina Department of Social Services. SC TANF State Plan December 2025
Maximum monthly payments for a family with no other income are $263 for a single parent, $449 for a family of three, and $541 for a family of four.7South Carolina Department of Social Services. SC TANF State Plan December 2025
Two rules matter beyond the income math. South Carolina caps benefits at 24 months within any 10-year period, which is well short of the 60-month federal lifetime limit, though hardship extensions exist.8South Carolina Department of Social Services. Frequently Asked Questions And able-bodied adults have to take part in a work activity: employment, job training, community service, or vocational education.7South Carolina Department of Social Services. SC TANF State Plan December 2025
Health Coverage: Medicaid and Medicare Savings
South Carolina Healthy Connections is the state’s Medicaid program, and eligibility is broken into categories rather than a single income cutoff. The main thresholds are:
- Pregnant women and infants: household income at or below 194% of the federal poverty level
- Children, through Partners for Healthy Children: household income at or below 208% of the federal poverty level
Elderly residents and people with documented disabilities can qualify for full Medicaid if they meet stricter income and asset tests. Other covered groups include parent and caretaker relatives, children with developmental delays, and breast and cervical cancer patients.9South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Program Eligibility and Income Limits
Help With Medicare Costs
If you have Medicare, the Medicare Savings Program can cover the Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026 for most beneficiaries.10Social Security Administration. Medicare Premiums The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) tier also picks up deductibles and co-insurance. Income and asset limits apply, and you apply through SCDHHS, not Medicare.
Medicaid Estate Recovery
One rule worth knowing before you or a relative accept long-term care through Medicaid: after a recipient dies, South Carolina may file a claim against the estate to recover the cost of nursing home care and home-based services received after age 55. Estates under $25,000 are not subject to recovery.11South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid Estate Recovery
Recovery does not apply if the deceased is survived by a spouse, a child under 21, or a child who is blind or permanently disabled. Family members are never personally liable; only the beneficiary’s own assets are considered, and the Medicaid claim ranks behind funeral expenses, taxes, and attorney’s fees. The state must waive recovery when it would cause undue hardship, and a waiver can be requested after death.11South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid Estate Recovery
Housing and Utility Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps with heating and cooling bills. Gross income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, which for 2026 works out to roughly $1,995 a month for one person and $3,415 for a family of three.12HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines There are two tracks: regular seasonal energy grants and crisis intervention for households facing immediate disconnection.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) are coordinated through the South Carolina Housing Finance and Development Authority with local housing authorities. The program is aimed at extremely low-income households, generally those earning less than 30% of the area median income. A voucher holder usually pays about 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent, and sometimes up to 40%.13U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants Waitlists are long and sometimes closed.
Child Care Scholarships
The SC Working Families Child Care Scholarship covers child care for children from birth through age 12. A parent or guardian has to work at least 15 hours a week or be in school or training, and household gross income has to be at or below 85% of the state median income. For a family of four, that ceiling is $87,161 a year. Children ages 13 through 18 may also qualify if they have disabilities, developmental delays, or are in foster care. Applications go through the DSS Benefits Portal.
As of December 2025, the program paused new applications from working families who aren’t in a protected category such as TANF recipients, families experiencing homelessness, or families involved with child welfare. Applications filed before the pause are still being processed, but new applicants outside those groups will be denied until the pause lifts. Check with DSS for the current status before applying.
How to Apply
What to Gather
Whichever program you’re applying for, pull together:
- A government-issued ID for yourself and Social Security numbers for every household member seeking benefits
- Proof of residency, such as a recent utility bill, lease, or voter registration card
- Income verification for everyone in the household: pay stubs, tax returns, or records of any other income
- Asset information, including bank balances and vehicle ownership
The main form is DSS Form 3800, which covers both TANF and SNAP. You can download it from the DSS website or pick it up at any county DSS office.14South Carolina Department of Social Services. Application for Assistance List everyone who lives in the home and their relationship to the head of household, and report gross monthly income before taxes or deductions.15South Carolina Department of Social Services. TANF, SNAP, and RCA Application
Where to Submit and How Long It Takes
Applications can be filed through the DSS Benefits Portal, mailed to the Centralized Scan Center, or dropped off at any county DSS office. A caseworker will set up a phone or in-person interview after you apply. Most decisions arrive within 30 days. Households with little or no income can qualify for expedited SNAP, with benefits loaded onto an EBT card within seven days of the application date.16Food and Nutrition Service. Facts About SNAP Watch your mail. If DSS asks for additional documentation, the response window is short, and missing it can delay or kill the application.
After You’re Approved: Reporting Changes
Once benefits start, you have to report changes in income, household size, or living situation. You can do it by mail, fax, email, phone, or a drop box at your local DSS office.17South Carolina Department of Social Services. Report A SNAP/TANF Change If you don’t report in time and receive more than you were entitled to, that overpayment has to be repaid whether or not the mistake was intentional. Deliberately withholding information can lead to disqualification.
If You’re Denied: Appeals and Fair Hearings
If DSS denies your application, cuts your benefits, or closes your case, you can request a fair hearing. The deadlines vary by program:
- SNAP: request a hearing within 90 days of the notice
- Family Independence (TANF): request within 60 days
- Continued benefits during the appeal: request within 10 days of the notice; if day 10 falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day counts
To start a request, call 1-800-311-7220 or write to your local DSS office. A hearing officer from the Office of Administrative Hearings will take both sides and mail a written decision.18South Carolina Department of Social Services. Fair Hearing Information
You can represent yourself, bring a friend or relative, or hire a lawyer at your own cost. Free legal help may be available through South Carolina Legal Aid at 1-888-346-5592 statewide or 803-744-9430 in the Columbia area. Tell DSS when you request the hearing if you need an interpreter or a disability accommodation. One thing to weigh: if you choose to keep receiving benefits during the appeal and the decision goes against you, you may have to pay those benefits back.18South Carolina Department of Social Services. Fair Hearing Information