Eligibility for Elderly and Disabled Residents

The District of Columbia (District) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program has special rules for households with elderly or disabled members.

Federal rules for SNAP define elderly as an individual who is 60 years or older. To be considered disabled for SNAP purposes, an individual must meet one of the following criteria:

Receiving federal disability or blindness payments under the Social Security Act, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security disability or blindness payments

Receiving state disability or blindness payments based on SSI rules including the District’s Interim Disability Assistance (IDA)

Receiving a disability retirement benefit from a governmental agency because of a permanent disability

Receiving an annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act and are eligible for Medicare or are considered disabled under SSI

A veteran who is totally disabled, permanently homebound, or in need of regular aid and attendance

SNAP Household A household is everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together as a group. Spouses and most children under age 22 are automatically included in the same SNAP household even if they purchase and prepare meals separately.

If a person is 60 years of age or older and unable to purchase and prepare meals separately because of a permanent disability, the person and the person's spouse may be a separate SNAP household if the others they live with do not have very much income (no more than 165 percent of the poverty level).

Normally you are not eligible for SNAP benefits if an institution gives you most of your meals. However, there is one exception for elderly persons and one for disabled persons:

Residents of federally subsidized housing for the elderly may be eligible for SNAP benefits, even if they receive their meals at the facility.

Disabled persons who live in certain nonprofit group living arrangements (small group homes with no more than 16 residents) may be eligible for SNAP benefits, even if the group home prepares their meals for them.

SNAP Income Limits In general, each SNAP household member’s income is counted together and compared to the income limits to determine eligibility. Income includes money earned from a job or self-employment and money received from sources like the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) or retirement.

Households with a person(s) age 60 years or older or a person with a disability only need to meet the net monthly income limit (see Table 1 below).

Net income means a SNAP household’s total gross income minus allowable deductions

If the SNAP household receives Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits, TANF non-cash benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) the SNAP household is considered categorically eligible for SNAP. Categorical eligibility for SNAP means the household has already been determined eligible for another means-tested program. Most District residents applying for SNAP are determined categorically eligible.