■ long distance phone calls related to obtaining medical services, or internet if needed for a medical device to function properly ■ out-of-pocket parking and tolls, or the monthly cost of taxis, vans, or public transportation needed to get to medical appointments Note: Mileage can be verbally self-declared by telling a DTA worker over the phone or in person ■ private transportation costs at the current federal mileage rate (as of January 2020 it is 57.5 cents/mile). ■ cost of a gym membership (if needed for health reasons) ■ health-related supplies recommended by a health provider including incontinence supplies, creams and ointments, commodes and walkers ■ eyeglasses, contact lenses/contact saline, hearing aids, batteries, communication equipment for the hearing or visually impaired ■ over-the-counter vitamins and over-the-counter drugs recommended by a licensed health care provider such as aspirin, laxatives, insulin, herbal and homeopathic remedies – a written prescription is not required ■ prescription drugs, including postage costs and any transportation costs to pick them up ■ health treatments by a licensed practitioner, including chiropractic, acupuncture, physical or other therapy ■ dental care, dentures, dental adhesives ■ costs for child care even if not working, if you need to pay for care because of your age, disability, or illness ■ any custodial or attendant care services you need (even if the caregiver is a relative), as well as housekeeping services you pay for ■ any medical services from doctors, clinics, hospitals, laboratories or other facilities that are not reimbursed by a third party ■ co-pays or premiums for Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medex or other health insurance, and your deductible for Medicare Part D The DTA worker should average her bill out over 10 months in order to give her the $155 standard medical expense deduction, which maximizes her SNAP. $350 over 11 months does not exceed $35 (it's only $31). Example 2Įsther’s one-time unpaid hospital bill is actually $350. Averaging the $500 by 11 months ($45/mo), Ester gets the standard medical expense deduction. DTA should average her bill out over the next 11 months (the rest of her certification period). A month later, she reports a one-time unpaid hospital bill of $500. She is approved for $74 in SNAP ($100/week earnings, $850 RSDI, rent of $500/month plus utilities). She works part-time at a school, so is certified for SNAP for 12 months. Example 1Įsther is 70 and applies for SNAP. Contact MLRI if DTA refuses to accept a one-time medical expense in your SNAP case. DTA may not be following the federal and state rules for medical expenses. DTA should look for the most advantageous option for averaging the one time bill.Īt the time this Guide goes to print, DTA says it will not count one-time unpaid medical bills incurred more than a year before you told DTA about the bill. If you have a one-time medical expense during your certification period, you have the option of claiming the expense as a one-time deduction or having it averaged over a number of months. If you live in public or subsidized housing, See Can I claim the medical expenses I used for my public or subsidized housing rent? If Esther verified more than $190/month in out-of-pocket expenses, she should claim actual, verifiable expenses that exceed the standard. Her SNAP benefits will be calculated using a $155 medical expense deduction. She has MassHealth coverage, but the combination of small pharmacy co-pays plus her over-the-counter pain relief and skin treatments add up to over $35 per month. You do not need to verify more than $35 per month.Īctual medical expenses: If you incur more than $190per month in medical expenses (the $35 threshold plus the $155 standard deduction), you can claim the actual expenses (minus the $35 threshold). Standard medical deduction of $155: If your out-of-pocket medical expenses are at least $35 a month, you will receive a standard deduction of $155 off of your monthly income. There are two ways SNAP handles un-reimbursed medical expenses. The lower your countable income, the higher the SNAP benefits your household will receive – up to the maximum SNAP amount for your household. The more expenses you are able to verify, the lower your net countable income. This applies to disabled children as well as adults. Any member of your household who is elder (age 60+) or disabled is allowed to claim un-reimbursed medical and health-related expenses as an income deduction.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |