SNAP and the Medical Expense Deduction

The lower the "countable income" DTA uses to calculate SNAP benefits, the higher the SNAP. As a general rule of thumb, every $3 less in countable net income increases SNAP by $1 - up to the maximum benefit. And because of the way the SNAP math works, claiming the medical expense deduction can also boost the value of the shelter deduction since the shelter deduction looks at shelter costs above 50% preliminary net income. Visit the SNAP Calculation Worksheet page to learn how SNAP benefits are calculated. 

Note: Not every elder/disabled household will benefit from claiming medical costs. This MLRI Benchmarks chart give you a general sense of when medical expenses make a difference for SNAP recipients whose rent is 30% of their unearned income. 

A wide range of costs that are not reimbursed or covered by health insurance count for the medical deduction. The medical expenses can only be claimed for household members age 60 or older, or who are disabled and receive a disability-based benefit (Medical expenses for non-elder/disabled household members unfortunately do not count). Countable expenses include, but are not limited to:

• The cost of health insurance premiums
• Co-payments for health care visits or prescriptions
• Acupuncture, chiropractic, vitamins, herbal treatments
• Health care supplies and equipment, incontinence supplies
• Home health aides, home maker services, care attendants
• "Medicine chest" items including over-the-counter drugs, ointments, other treatments that are recommended or prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner
• Eyeglasses, contacts, lens solutions; hearing aids, batteries; dental care, dentures and adhesives
• The costs of public or private car transportation to health care appointments and pharmacies - calculated by multiplying the number of round trip miles by the current federal mileage rate. (Use MapQuest or Google Maps to determine mileage between locations.)
• One time medical bills for which there is no 3rd party reimbursement. A one-time bill can be averaged out in different ways to ensure the household's SNAP is maximized. 

Households can claim medical costs with DTA at any point - at SNAP application, recertification, or any time in between. A household can generally self declare frequency of costs incurred. 

EXAMPLES of documents to send DTA: 

• For public/subsidized tenants, a copy of the "rent calculation worksheet" if medical expenses were claimed for rent purposes. For more information, see MLRI's How to Lower Your Rent and Boost Your SNAP Benefits: An Advocacy Tool Kit for Mass Tenants
• A print-out or bill from a health provider showing co-payments and date of service
• Pharmacy printouts of prescription drug costs and purchase dates. 
• Receipts for over-the-counter medications or health supplies (herbal remedies, vitamins, etc) recommended by a health provider (a prescription is not required)
• Transportation receipts from the RIDE, the cost of an MBTA pass, taxi or ride share fees, bus fare. Note, for private vehicle transportation to a doctor, pharmacy or any health care location, a household can verbally self declare transportation costs for medical expenses.
• Bills or statements showing private insurance premiums and deductables (DTA should get information on a Medicare Part B premium paid out of Social Security directly from the Social Security Administration)
• Any other paperwork that shows medical costs incurred by an elder and/or disabled member of the SNAP household.