Page 52

SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL –SECTION 6000 6500 Medical Deduction

6520 Medical Standard or Actual Expenses

6520 Medical Standard or Actual Expenses SNAP Manual 07/01/2026

Households with allowable medical expenses may claim the medical standard deduction or elect to deduct actual medical expenses. The medical standard is a predetermined deduction that an eligible household may elect to use in the SNAP budget to calculate total medical costs. Standard Medical Deduction Households with allowable medical expenses who wish to claim medical deductions may claim the medical deduction if they have medical expenses of at least thirty-five dollars and one cent ($35.01). If expenses are less than the standard medical deduction amount (see Appendix D), the medical standard will be assigned, if they choose to claim and verify all their medical expenses. If medical expenses are greater than the standard medical deduction amount (see Appendix D), the household may choose either the medical standard or their actual medical expenses. If a household chooses to claim their actual expenses, the household will need to supply verification of all costs. To be eligible for the standard medical deduction (see Appendix D), the following conditions must be met at initial and subsequent case actions: • Households must verify, at each initial application, that they have incurred more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per month in qualifying medical expenses. • Households must attest at each re-certification and subsequent case action that they still have medical expenses of more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per month. An attestation is a verbal statement, written statement, or appropriate response to a question supplied on a form. No further verification is required. • Previously unreported medical expenses reported after initial application must be verified. Verification of these previously unreported medical expenses must show that the household incurred a medical expense of more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per month. Actual Medical Deduction For households choosing actual medical expenses, the eligibility worker should obtain the best estimate from the household at certification and subsequent case actions to anticipate medical expenses based on the best information available. The household is under no obligation to report changes in medical expenses but is allowed to do so. The worker will act on any reported changes in medical expenses. The worker must consider several factors when anticipating medical expenses: 1. How often is the expense incurred? See SNAP 6521. 2. Will the expense be reimbursed? See SNAP 6522. 3. Is the expense past due? See SNAP 6523.