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Division/Section Economic Stability Chapter No./Name 4 – Economic Independence (EI) Part No./Name B – Eligibility Factors Section No./Name B-600-FITAP-SNAP Income Document No./Name B-650-SNAP Deductions Effective Date June 1, 2026

15 of 22 Verification/Documentation of Medical Expenses

Verify medical bills and reimbursements at initial application, redetermination, and any time during the certification period that the household voluntarily reports a change in medical expenses which results in an increase in benefits. However, households that receive the Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) are not required to provide verification at redetermination unless the declaration of the expense is questionable. (See document C-820-SNAP and C-840-SNAP for action on changes. See B-653- SNAP-PR for treatment of changes reported by sources outside the household.)

Document medical verification in LITE.

B-653-3-SNAP - PR STANDARD MEDICAL DEDUCTION

Allow a household that consist of elderly or disabled household members who have verified allowable medical expenses of at least $35.01 a Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) of $161.

Households that include an elderly and/or disabled household member must be provided information about the SMD during the interview. The worker must explain to eligible non-SMD households that they may qualify for the SMD during their certification period by reporting and verifying new medical expenses that exceed $35.

Verification/Documentation of Medical Expenses

To be eligible for the SMD, households must verify that the elderly or disabled household member incurs more than $35 a month in allowable medical expenses at application and when questionable.

Certified households will remain eligible for the SMD at redetermination if the household declares that their allowable medical expenses incurred by an elderly or disabled household member continues to exceed $35 a month. Verification for medical expenses is not required at redetermination unless the information is questionable.

B-654-SNAP - PR SHELTER COSTS

Determining the Shelter Deduction

Deduct monthly shelter costs that exceed 50% of the income remaining after all other deductions have been allowed.

The maximum shelter deduction is $744.00.

Except for special unoccupied home provisions, compute the shelter deduction using charges for the shelter currently occupied by the household.