YourTexasBenefits is the official Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) portal at yourtexasbenefits.com, used to apply for Medicaid, SNAP food benefits, TANF cash assistance, and CHIP in one combined application. The fastest way to apply in 2026 is online; you can also call 2-1-1 Texas (option 2 after language) or the HHSC benefits line at 1-877-541-7905 to apply by phone. Most online applications take 30 to 45 minutes, and HHSC has up to 45 days to process them.
This guide walks through every step of the 2026 portal flow, the income limits for Texas Medicaid and SNAP, the documents to gather, and what to expect after submission. Texas runs one of the most restrictive Medicaid programs in the country and one of the more accessible SNAP programs through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, so the rules are not symmetric across the two.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change. Confirm requirements with HHSC at yourtexasbenefits.com before applying.
How to Apply Through YourTexasBenefits in 2026
The portal handles Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, CHIP, and Healthy Texas Women through a single combined application. Here is the seven-step flow exactly as it appears in 2026.
1. Create your YourTexasBenefits account at yourtexasbenefits.com
Go to yourtexasbenefits.com and click "Create a new account." You need a working email, a phone number, and a username and password. The account stores your application in progress, lets you upload documents, and is where you check status and renew benefits later. If you forgot a password from a prior application, use the "Forgot Password" link rather than creating a new account, which can confuse your case record.
2. Verify your identity
The portal asks identity-verification questions pulled from public records (prior addresses, vehicles, employers). If the questions fail, you can still complete the application, but you will need to bring photo ID to a local HHSC office or upload it through the portal before the case is approved.
3. Select the programs you want to apply for
Choose any combination of Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, and Healthy Texas Women. Selecting more than one program does not slow the application down much; the portal asks the union of what each program needs. If you are not sure whether you qualify, select every program that might apply. HHSC will determine eligibility for each one separately.
4. Complete the household and income sections
List everyone who lives with you, including non-applicants, with date of birth, Social Security number (if they have one), and relationship to you. Then enter every income source: wages, self-employment, Social Security, SSI, pensions, child support, unemployment, VA, rental income. Use gross amounts, not take-home pay. Mis-stating household size or income is the single most common reason applications are denied or delayed.
5. Upload required documents
The portal accepts PDFs and phone photos. Upload proof of identity, the last 30 days of pay stubs (or an employer letter), proof of Texas residency, and any program-specific documents in the checklist below. Submitting documents in the same session reduces the chance HHSC pauses your case waiting for paperwork.
6. Submit and track your application
Review every section before clicking submit. Save the confirmation number. From this point, you log back into yourtexasbenefits.com any time to check status, see what HHSC still needs, and read decision notices. The portal can also send text or email alerts if you opt in.
7. Complete any phone or in-person interview
SNAP always requires an interview, usually by phone, within about 20 days of submission. Medicaid does not require an interview in most cases. HHSC calls from a 512 or 800 area code; if you miss the call, call 2-1-1 Texas back quickly or the case is denied for "failure to interview." Expedited SNAP cases (under $150 monthly gross income and under $100 in cash) get an interview within 7 days.
2026 Texas Income Limits for Medicaid and SNAP
The programs use different yardsticks. Medicaid uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) tested against category-specific FPL percentages. SNAP uses gross monthly income tested at 165% of the Federal Poverty Level for most Texas households (Texas applies Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, raising the gross test above the 130% federal floor) plus a net income test at 100% FPL. The 2026 numbers below come from the HHS poverty guidelines published in January 2026.
| Household Size | Medicaid for Pregnant Women (198% FPL, monthly) | Medicaid for Pregnant Women (198% FPL, annual) | SNAP Gross Limit Texas (165% FPL, monthly) | SNAP Net Limit (100% FPL, monthly) |
|---|
| 1 | $2,633 | $31,601 | $2,194 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $3,571 | $42,847 | $2,975 | $1,803 |
| 3 | $4,508 | $54,094 | $3,756 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $5,445 | $65,340 | $4,538 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $6,382 | $76,586 | $5,318 | $3,223 |
| 6 | $7,320 | $87,833 | $6,099 | $3,697 |
| 7 | $8,257 | $99,079 | $6,881 | $4,170 |
| 8 | $9,194 | $110,326 | $7,661 | $4,643 |
| Each additional | +$937 | +$11,246 | +$781 | +$473 |
Texas coverage gap callout. Texas has not expanded Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children generally cannot qualify for Medicaid at any income. Parents qualify only at roughly 12% to 17% FPL, about $230 per month for a family of four. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates more than 600,000 Texans fall into the coverage gap where income is too high for Medicaid but too low for ACA subsidies. If you are an adult without children, the portal will route you to SNAP and Healthy Texas Women rather than Medicaid in almost every case. You can check your eligibility for Texas benefits in 2 minutes before starting a full application.
What Makes Texas's Application Different in 2026
Texas runs its own eligibility system (TIERS) and has policy choices that make the portal behave differently than what national guides describe.
- Non-expansion Medicaid. Texas is one of 10 remaining non-expansion states in 2026. The portal will not consider adults ages 19 to 64 for Medicaid unless they are pregnant, parents at extreme low income, disabled, or in another categorical group.
- Pregnant women qualify at 198% FPL. Texas Medicaid for Pregnant Women covers prenatal care, delivery, and 12 months of postpartum care for applicants up to 198% FPL ($5,445 per month for a family of four). CHIP Perinatal covers pregnant women between 198% and 202% FPL.
- Children qualify up to 201% FPL for CHIP. Children at 0 to 198% FPL qualify for Medicaid (the cut depends on the child's age); children between roughly 144% and 201% FPL qualify for CHIP. The portal assigns each child to the right program automatically.
- SNAP gross income test at 165% FPL, not 130%. Texas uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, raising the gross test above the 130% federal floor to 165% FPL. There is still a 100% FPL net income test after deductions for rent, utilities, child care, and medical expenses.
- OBBB raised SNAP work requirements through age 64. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, expanded ABAWD work requirements from ages 18 to 54 up to ages 18 to 64. Texas is rolling out the expansion in 2026. ABAWDs in covered areas must work or train 20 hours per week or lose benefits after 3 months in any 36-month period.
- Healthy Texas Women up to 200% FPL. Women ages 15 to 44 who do not qualify for Medicaid may qualify for Healthy Texas Women, covering family planning, contraception, and basic women's health services. The portal offers this automatically when full Medicaid is denied for income.
Documents You Need Before You Start
Have these ready in PDF or phone-photo form before you log in. Missing documents are the single most common cause of YourTexasBenefits application delays in 2026.
- Photo ID for every adult applicant. Driver's license, Texas ID, passport, or military ID. Confirms identity for both Medicaid and SNAP.
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying. Children applying for Medicaid or CHIP need SSNs too. Non-applicants in the household do not.
- Proof of Texas residency. Utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government letter dated within the last 60 days.
- Income verification for the last 30 days. Pay stubs from every job, or an employer letter on letterhead stating gross pay and hours. Self-employed applicants need a profit-and-loss statement, last year's tax return, or 90 days of bank statements.
- Other income proof. Social Security or SSI award letters, pension statements, unemployment determination letters, child support orders, VA award letters.
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status. US birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate, or USCIS document. Lawfully present non-citizens can qualify for some programs; mixed-status households are normal.
- Proof of pregnancy (if applying for pregnancy Medicaid). A note from a healthcare provider confirming pregnancy and due date.
- Childcare receipts. Used to calculate SNAP deductions. Even informal arrangements count if you have proof of payment.
- Housing expense documentation. Lease, rent receipts, mortgage statement, property tax bill, and current utility bills. Used for the SNAP shelter deduction, which often raises benefit amounts substantially.
- Medical expense receipts (for elderly or disabled household members). Out-of-pocket medical costs over $35 per month can be deducted from SNAP income.
You do not need every document to start the application. You do need to upload or deliver them within the window HHSC gives you (usually 10 days from request) or the case will be denied.
What Happens After You Apply
After you click submit, the case enters HHSC's TIERS system and gets a case number tied to your YourTexasBenefits account. Standard processing is up to 45 days for Medicaid and 30 days for SNAP from the application date. Expedited SNAP (under $150 monthly gross income and under $100 in cash) must be processed within 7 days. Pregnant women often get faster Medicaid decisions.
A SNAP interview call comes within about 20 days, or within 7 days for expedited SNAP. Medicaid does not require an interview in most non-disability cases. Watch for letters and texts from HHSC requesting verification; you usually have 10 days to respond before the case is denied for "failure to provide."
Once approved, SNAP benefits load onto a Lone Star EBT card mailed to your address. Medicaid approval comes with a Medicaid ID card and a managed care plan packet (Texas Medicaid mostly runs through STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids, or STAR Health). Medicaid coverage can be retroactive up to 3 months before the application date if you were eligible then, which can help pay outstanding medical bills.
If you are denied, the notice tells you why and how to appeal. You have 90 days from the notice date to request a fair hearing by calling 2-1-1 Texas or filing online through your YourTexasBenefits account. If you appeal within 10 days, benefits continue during the appeal. Hearings are conducted by phone or video by an independent HHSC officer.
To check status, log into yourtexasbenefits.com. The dashboard shows case status, missing documents, the next renewal date, and your benefit amount. You can also call 2-1-1 Texas, though wait times can be long around the first of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does YourTexasBenefits approval take in 2026?
Standard processing is up to 45 days for Medicaid and 30 days for SNAP from the date HHSC receives the application. Expedited SNAP cases (under $150 monthly gross income and less than $100 in cash) must be processed within 7 days. Pregnant women often receive faster Medicaid decisions. Missing documents are the main reason cases take longer than the standard window.
Can I apply for multiple programs in one YourTexasBenefits application?
Yes. The portal handles a combined application for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, and Healthy Texas Women in one session. Selecting more than one program does not lengthen the application much because most underlying questions overlap, and HHSC determines eligibility for each program separately.
What if I'm denied? How do I appeal a YourTexasBenefits decision?
You have 90 days from the denial notice date to request a fair hearing. Request it through your YourTexasBenefits account, by calling 2-1-1 Texas, or by mailing the request to the address on the denial notice. If you appeal within 10 days, your benefits continue while the appeal is pending. Fair hearings are decided by independent HHSC hearings officers, usually by phone.
Do I have to pay anything to apply through YourTexasBenefits?
No. Applications for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, CHIP, and Healthy Texas Women through YourTexasBenefits are free. Beware of websites that charge a fee to "process" or "expedite" a Texas benefits application; the only official application is yourtexasbenefits.com, and HHSC never charges for an application.
Can I apply for SNAP in Texas without a YourTexasBenefits account?
Yes. Call 2-1-1 Texas (option 2 after language) and apply by phone, or visit a local HHSC office in person. You can also download Form H1010, fill it out by hand, and mail or fax it to your local office. An online account makes uploading documents, checking status, and renewing benefits much easier, though.
Does YourTexasBenefits handle Medicaid renewal in 2026?
Yes. HHSC sends a renewal notice through your YourTexasBenefits account and by mail roughly 60 days before coverage ends. Log in, confirm or update household and income information, and upload any new verification documents. Texas resumed regular renewals in 2023 after the COVID continuous-coverage period ended, and the 2026 renewal process runs primarily through the portal.
Check Your Eligibility Before You Apply
Texas Medicaid has some of the strictest adult eligibility rules in the country, and SNAP has a different income test even though both run through the same portal. A free screening can save 30 to 45 minutes on a full application if you do not qualify, and can flag programs you did not know about.
Check your eligibility for Texas benefits in 2 minutes with Benefits USA's free screener. It checks Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, ACA subsidies, and other programs at the same time, and links you to the right application for each one.
For situation-specific questions (a child with a disability, pending immigration status, recent loss of coverage), call 2-1-1 Texas or visit a local HHSC office for one-on-one help.
Check Your Eligibility →
