1. Medical Deductions for Elderly and Disabled Recipients

The medical expense deduction for age or disabilities of household members represents an unknown provision of SNAP benefits which most participants fail to recognize. Homeowners who have reached age 60 and above or who are disabled can deduct multiple expenses they spend on medical attention. Prescribed medications and Physician’s office visits and Health insurance premiums and Medical devices and accessories serve as examples of deductible expenses under the medical expense deduction for age or disabilities of household members.

The rule is that these expenses need to be over $35 per month to be eligible for the deduction. By keeping a log of your medical expenses and providing these during your SNAP application process, you can be eligible to receive a dramatic increase to your monthly allowance.

2. Dependent or Child Care Deduction

For households that have children or dependents, child care is often a high-cost burden. The great news is that SNAP allows you to deduct child care expenses if you need to work or attend school. Some of these expenses you can deduct include: Day care fees, After-school programs, Babysitting fees, Camp fees during school breaks

If you reside in a household that has dependents and you pay for their care in order to work or attend school, be sure to report these expenses during your SNAP application process. Depending on quantity, this can increase your allowance by more than $200 per month.

3. Excess Shelter Costs Deduction

Another often-overlooked deduction that raises your SNAP benefits is the excess shelter expenses deduction. If you spend over 50% of your household’s income on shelter (rent, house payments, utilities, etc.), you can receive a higher deduction. This is helpful to households that pay high mortgages or rents, or households that live in expensive utility areas.

The shelter deduction includes the following qualifying expenses: Payments on rent or a house, Payments on utilities such as gas, electricity, and water, Payments on property taxes, Payments on homeowners insurance

The more of these expenses you pay in a percentage of your income, the higher your SNAP benefits can be boosted by the excess shelter deduction. Be sure to account for all of your shelter expenses and provide them during your recertification process.

4. Earned Income Deductions for Working Individuals

If you or a member of your household is employed, you can be eligible for an earned income deduction. SNAP allows you to deduct a percentage of your earned income from your household’s total income. The percentage you deduct is a fixed percentage, reducing the countable income used to determine your benefits.

For example, a percentage of your wages or self-employment income can be excluded, resulting in higher SNAP benefits. Working adultswith children, in particular, would be entitled to receive a large increase in their benefits using this deduction. Be sure to accurately report your earnings each month in order to receive this deduction applied correctly.

5. Standard Deduction for All Households

While not a secret one, many are unaware of the standard deduction taken from every household that is receiving SNAP benefits. The standard deduction is a fixed amount taken off of your household’s total income, automatically added to your SNAP benefits. The actual sum is determined by your state and household size, though it’s generally between $100 to $200.

The deduction is to account for basic household expenses and decrease your total calculation of income to obtain you the maximum you’re eligible to receive in benefits. Be accurate when reporting on your household’s income and watch for this deduction when applying or recertifying.

Conclusion

By applying these oft-forgotten deductions, SNAP recipients can receive hundreds of dollars in added benefits each month. If you’ve been short-changing your benefits, it’s time to review your eligibility for medical, childcare, shelter, and income-based deductions. Always take careful note of expenses, and be certain to receive guidance from your local SNAP office if you’re in question of qualifying deductions.