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Subject: SNAP Deductions from Income

Policy 24.18 Date of Last Review: 11/30/2023 Effective Date: 09/17/2018 Date of Next Review: 11/30/2026 RDA: SW22 Page 15 of 20 the client if the expenses are averaged rather than have them be considered on a month by month basis. b. In order to obtain an accurate average, the HH will have to provide adequate verification of medical expense for the past three months, as a rule. c. However, some medical expenses occur less frequently than monthly, but frequently enough to be averaged [i.e. a prescription that is filled every four (4) months]. In these cases, verification for a longer period of time will be appropriate (4-6 months) in order to accurately average the expense. 3. Using Actual Expenses a. The HH has the option of using actual medical expenses on a month-by-month basis. b. Using the actual expenses may be more beneficial when the client is billed less often than monthly for an expense. c. This may happen if the HH’s only allowable medical expense is a health insurance premium paid once every three (3) months, or if the individual goes to the doctor only once every so many months. If the bills were averaged, the expense may be less than thirty five dollars ($35.00) per month, resulting in no deduction. 4. Once an expense has been allowed, it cannot be allowed again, regardless of whether the HH actually paid it. 5. Staff shall refer to SNAP Deductions from Income Example Scenarios for an example on how use actual expenses when calculating a medical deduction. V. Changes in Medical Deductions 1. Applications a. A change may occur during the application processing period which affects an individual’s eligibility for a medical deduction. These changes will be considered in determining the HH’s SNAP allotment beginning with the initial month of the certification period. b. If the HH anticipates a medical expense several months into the certification period and provides adequate verification at application the HH may elect to have the expense averaged over the entire certification period. c. When a HH reports an anticipated medical expense at the time of application but is unable to provide the verification at that time, the expense will not be allowed until the verification is provided. 2. Active Cases a. HHs are required to report and verify all medical expenses at the time of application and at reapplication. They may report changes in their medical expenses during the certification period but are not required to do so. b. When a HH voluntarily reports a change, the changes will be acted upon within the normal timeframes for handling changes.