SNAP households with a member age 60 or older, or a member who meets Social Security's disability criteria, can deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses over $35 a month from their income when applying for food assistance. This single rule change is why many seniors and people with disabilities qualify for larger SNAP benefits than a basic income calculation would suggest. As of 2026, at least 21 states have replaced the paperwork-heavy actual expense deduction with a flat "standard medical deduction" (SMD) ranging from about $115 to $200 a month, and every state also removes the shelter cost cap and the gross income test for these households. Below is a full breakdown of how the deduction works, which states use a standard amount, and how to claim it.
What Is the SNAP Elderly and Disabled Medical Deduction?
SNAP normally only counts income after subtracting a handful of standard deductions. For most households, medical costs are not one of them. But federal SNAP rules (7 CFR 273.9(d)(3)) create an exception: if a household includes someone who is 60 or older, or who is considered disabled under SNAP's definition, that person's unreimbursed medical expenses above $35 a month can be subtracted from household income before benefits are calculated.
Because SNAP benefits go up as countable net income goes down, claiming this deduction directly increases the monthly benefit amount for many senior and disabled households, sometimes by $50 to $150 a month or more.
Who counts as "elderly" for SNAP: anyone age 60 or older.
Who counts as "disabled" for SNAP: a person who meets any of these criteria:
- Receives SSI, Social Security disability benefits, or Social Security blindness payments
- Receives disability retirement benefits from a federal, state, or local government agency due to a permanent disability
- Receives a Railroad Retirement Act annuity and is eligible for Medicare or considered disabled under SSI rules
- Is a veteran who is totally disabled, permanently homebound, or needs regular aid and attendance
- Is the surviving spouse or child of a veteran and is considered permanently disabled under VA rules
Two Special Rules That Come With Elderly/Disabled Status
Households with a qualifying elderly or disabled member get more than just the medical deduction. Three federal rules kick in together:
- No gross income test. Most SNAP households must pass both a gross income test (130% of the federal poverty level) and a net income test. Elderly/disabled households skip the gross income test entirely and only need to meet the net income limit, which is at or below 100% of the poverty line after deductions.
- Uncapped shelter deduction. For 2026, most households can only deduct shelter costs (rent, utilities) above half their income up to a cap of $744 a month. Elderly and disabled households have no cap: every dollar of shelter cost above half of household income counts.
- Medical expense deduction. Covered in detail below.
Together, these rules mean many seniors and disabled adults with modest Social Security or disability income, but high housing and medical costs, qualify for SNAP even when their gross income looks too high on paper.
What Medical Expenses Count
Allowable medical expenses under 7 CFR 273.9(d)(3) include:
- Prescription drugs and doctor-approved over-the-counter medication
- Health and hospitalization insurance premiums (including Medicare Part B premiums)
- Dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, and prosthetics
- Service animals and their upkeep
- Transportation and lodging costs to get medical treatment
- Home health aides, attendant care, homemaker services, or a housekeeper needed due to the medical condition
- Telephone equipment for hearing or vision impairment
- One-time medical bills not covered by insurance
Only the elderly or disabled household member's own medical expenses count. A younger, non-disabled person in the same household cannot use their medical bills for this deduction, but an elderly or disabled person can live with non-qualifying household members and still claim their own costs.
Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) by State
Instead of requiring a full accounting of every medical bill, many states let eligible households claim a flat monthly amount once they show expenses are over $35. This is called the Standard Medical Deduction or SMD. If actual verified expenses exceed the state's SMD ceiling, the household can instead claim actual expenses minus $35.
The table below reflects the most recent published state SMD amounts. States update these periodically, so confirm your exact figure with your state's SNAP office or through the Benefits Navigator screener.
| State | Standard Medical Deduction | Use standard deduction if expenses fall between |
|---|
| Alabama | approximately $175/month | $35.01 and $175 |
| Arkansas | approximately $138/month | $35.01 and $138 |
| California | approximately $120/month | $35.01 and $155 |
| Colorado | approximately $165/month | $35.01 and $165 |
| Georgia | approximately $136/month | over $35 |
| Idaho | approximately $144/month | $35.01 and $179 |
| Illinois | approximately $185/month | over $35 |
| Iowa | approximately $125/month | over $35, up to $160 |
| Kansas | approximately $175/month | over $35 |
| Louisiana | approximately $161/month | $35.01 and $196 |
| Massachusetts | approximately $155/month | $35.01 and $190 |
| Missouri | approximately $135/month | $35.01 and $170 |
| New Hampshire | approximately $115/month | $35.01 and $115 |
| North Dakota | approximately $200/month | over $35, up to $200 |
| Rhode Island | approximately $183/month | $35.01 and $218 |
| South Carolina | approximately $175/month | $35.01 and $210 |
| South Dakota | approximately $180/month | over $35, up to $215 |
| Texas | approximately $135/month | over $35, up to $170 |
| Vermont | approximately $156/month | $35.01 and $191 |
| Virginia | approximately $200/month | $35.01 and $235 |
| Wyoming | approximately $138/month | over $35 |
If your state is not listed above, it likely does not use a flat standard deduction. In that case, you claim your actual verified medical expenses over $35 each month. This applies in most states not shown here, including large states like New York, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina, so residents there must submit documentation of real medical bills rather than a flat figure.
In every state, if actual documented expenses exceed the standard deduction ceiling, the household can choose to claim actual expenses minus $35 instead of the flat SMD amount.
How the Deduction Affects Your SNAP Benefit
Here is a simplified example using 2026 federal figures. SNAP benefits are calculated by subtracting 30% of net income from the maximum benefit for the household size.
Example: single senior, $1,400/month Social Security income, $150/month medical expenses
| Step | Amount |
|---|
| Gross income | $1,400 |
| Standard deduction (2026, household size 1-3) | -$209 |
| Medical expense deduction ($150 - $35) | -$115 |
| Countable net income | $1,076 |
| 30% of net income | $323 |
| Maximum SNAP allotment (1 person, 2026) | approximately $298 |
| Estimated monthly SNAP benefit | $0-$50 (varies by exact shelter costs and other deductions) |
Without the medical deduction, this same household's countable income would be $115 higher, which can be the difference between qualifying for a meaningful benefit and qualifying for little or nothing. Adding the uncapped shelter deduction for households with high rent often pushes the benefit up further. Every household's exact math depends on shelter costs, utility allowances, and household size, which is why running your specific numbers through a screener matters more than any generic example.
2026 SNAP Income Limits for Elderly and Disabled Households
Because elderly/disabled households skip the gross income test, the number that matters most is the net income limit, set at 100% of the federal poverty level.
| Household Size | Net Monthly Income Limit (100% FPL, FY2026) |
|---|
| 1 | approximately $1,305 |
| 2 | approximately $1,763 |
| 3 | approximately $2,221 |
| 4 | approximately $2,680 |
| 5 | approximately $3,138 |
| 6 | approximately $3,597 |
These figures apply for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. Remember, this is the limit after deductions, including the standard deduction, medical expense deduction, and uncapped excess shelter deduction, so many households with gross income well above these numbers still qualify.
How to Apply and Claim the Deduction
- Apply for SNAP through your state agency. Every state has an online application, and Benefits Navigator's screener can point you to your state's exact portal and pre-check your likely eligibility.
- Report the elderly or disabled household member. This is what triggers the special rules automatically in the state's eligibility system.
- Gather medical expense proof. Bills, insurance statements, pharmacy receipts, Medicare Part B premium notices, or a written statement from a home health provider. States require proof for the deduction, though several states, including Massachusetts, allow phone or written self-attestation at recertification instead of new documentation each time.
- Report expenses even if you are unsure they qualify. Caseworkers can determine which bills count. Common missed expenses include Medicare premiums, dental work, transportation to appointments, and over-the-counter medication recommended by a doctor.
- Update at recertification. Medical costs change. If your expenses increase, report the new total so your deduction, and your benefit, stays accurate.
- Ask your caseworker directly if your state uses a standard deduction. Not all states publish this clearly on their websites, and caseworkers can apply it automatically once expenses over $35 are verified.
Why This Deduction Is Underused
National data shows only about 14% of SNAP households with an elderly member, and about 8% of households with a non-elderly disabled member, actually claim the medical expense deduction, even though a much larger share likely qualifies. The main barriers are not knowing the deduction exists, confusion about which expenses count, and the paperwork burden of proving expenses each recertification period. States that adopted a standard deduction with self-attestation, like Massachusetts, have seen higher claim rates because households no longer need to submit a new stack of bills every renewal.
If you or a family member is 60 or older, or receives SSI, SSDI, or VA disability benefits, and pays for prescriptions, Medicare premiums, dental care, or home health help, it is worth reporting those costs on your SNAP application even if you assume they will not matter. They often do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SNAP medical expense deduction for elderly and disabled households?
It allows a household member age 60 or older, or a member meeting SNAP's disability criteria, to deduct unreimbursed medical expenses above $35 a month from household income before SNAP benefits are calculated. This can increase the monthly SNAP benefit.
Which states have a standard medical deduction for SNAP?
At least 21 states use a flat standard medical deduction instead of requiring full expense documentation each time, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. Amounts range from approximately $115 to $200 a month. Other states, including New York, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, require actual verified expenses.
Do I need receipts for every medical expense to claim this deduction?
You need some form of verification, such as bills, insurance statements, or pharmacy records, at initial application. Many states allow simpler self-attestation (a phone call or written statement confirming expenses still exceed $35) at recertification instead of resubmitting full documentation.
Does the medical deduction apply if I have Medicare or private insurance?
Yes, but only for costs not covered by insurance. Premiums you pay for Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, or supplemental policies count as medical expenses even though they relate to insurance coverage.
Is there a cap on how much medical expense I can deduct?
No federal cap exists on actual verified medical expenses. States with a standard medical deduction set a flat amount, but if your actual expenses exceed that state's ceiling, you can instead claim your actual expenses minus $35, with no upper limit.
Do elderly and disabled SNAP households have to meet the gross income test?
No. Households with a qualifying elderly or disabled member are exempt from the gross income test (130% of the federal poverty level) and only need to meet the net income limit, which is 100% of the federal poverty level after all deductions.
Can a disabled child qualify a household for these special rules?
Yes. Any household member who meets SNAP's disability definition, including a child receiving SSI, qualifies the household for the medical deduction, the uncapped shelter deduction, and exemption from the gross income test.
How much more could my SNAP benefit be with the medical deduction?
It varies by household, but claiming even $100 to $150 in monthly medical expenses can reduce countable income enough to increase a monthly benefit by $30 to $50 or more, since SNAP benefits are calculated as roughly 30% less for every dollar of countable net income.
Ready to see what you qualify for? Use the free Benefits Navigator screener to check your SNAP eligibility, including whether your state uses a standard medical deduction, along with 10 other assistance programs in one search.
