SNAP Benefits: How To Get The Most Every Month

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that is designed to help provide funds to low-income households in order to fight food insecurity.  The SNAP program is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, which outlines what foods are allowed or not allowed to be purchased. SNAP eligible food items include vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, poultry, breads and cereals, dairy products, snack items, non-alcoholic beverages, and food-bearing seeds and plants. One of the desired outcomes of SNAP is to help provide a healthy and balanced diet for everyone in the household. However, rising food prices or other factors can make this difficult. Fortunately, there are several legal and valid ways to increase SNAP in order to buy food for the household.

Claim the Correct Deductions

While there is a standard deduction and an earned income deduction, other deductions are allowed to be made when calculating benefits. Depending on state of residence, some of the most common deductions that individuals do not always claim but that could benefit them include:

Dependent Care Deduction

If a household member requires dependent care (i.e. child care), it can be deducted when it is used for work, training, or education.

Medical Expenses

Out-of-pocket medical expenses in excess of the annually prescribed amount for elderly or disabled members of the household can be deducted. These may include co-pays, prescriptions, hearing aids, or other expenses.

Child Support Payments

If a member of the included household is legally obligated to pay child support, the family may receive a deduction for it. Checking with the case worker to determine if child support payments can be deducted could result in an increase in benefits.

Standard Shelter Deductions for Homeless Households

Homeless households can potentially get a deduction if they can prove related expenses, such as payments for a hotel or temporary lodging. The fixed amount is deducted from your net income, which can increase the amount for which the recipients are eligible.

Excess Shelter Costs

Certain shelter costs, if more than half of the household’s income after deductions include:

• fuel for heating and cooking
• electricity and water
• basic fee for one telephone
• rent/mortgage payments, interest, property taxes

In some states, there is a set amount for utility costs, and the shelter deduction in most states is currently capped at $624 unless one member of the household is disabled or elderly.

Immediately Report Reductions in Income

If a household experiences a reduced income or other major change that may affect calculations, they should notify their case worker. While changes will eventually be addressed during the recertification process, a significant change in circumstances could increase SNAP benefits.

Only Include The Correct People in Your Household

Although a person may live in your home, you may not be required to include them in your household or claim their income. Clarifying a living situation can result in correct calculations. Generally speaking, for the purposes of SNAP, a household is a group of people that live together and purchase and prepare their food together. If there is someone in the household that does not buy and prepare their food with you, you likely will not include their income. This could be a roommate, a live-in caregiver, or another individual that has a separate food budget and does not prepare food with the household.

Learn More About SNAP Benefits

To learn more about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to inquire about eligibility, or to apply for benefits, interested persons should contact their state agency online or by phone, or visit a local office.