The income guidelines to qualify for SNAP or food stamp benefits should deduct the amount of money households pay in rent and utilities.
A household should not be disqualified because they exceed the income limits if the amount of their income spent on maintaining the household is not deducted from that cost. The allowance rates currently being used do not reflect the true amount of the households income / debt ratio.
This especially holds true for single person households; those without children, and college students.