SR 23-05 Dated 2/23

SUMMARY

This Supervisory Release (SR) releases updates to policy regarding the SNAP medical deduction for target individuals as it pertains to service animals.

POLICY

SNAP households containing a target individual (elderly or disabled) are entitled to a standard medical deduction of $115 per month if the allowable medical expenses incurred by the target individual(s) exceed $35 per month; if verified expenses are greater than $115, the household is entitled to the higher deduction equal to actual verified expenses. 7 CFR 273.9(d)(3), which is the federal regulation pertaining to excess medical deductions for SNAP, states that allowable medical expenses include securing and maintaining a seeing eye or hearing dog, including the cost of dog food and veterinary bills. In 1990, FNS issued a memo broadening the definition to include all service animals. Then, in 2015, FNS issued another memo to revise the regulation, clarifying that costs associated with any service animal specially trained to serve the needs of the target individual are allowable expenses for the medical deduction.

The service animal must be prescribed by a healthcare provider; request verification in the form of a prescription or a signed and dated statement from the healthcare provider which indicates the animal is necessary. The animal must be specially trained to assist the individual with the medical issue for which the animal is prescribed, although specific types of training, credentials, and/or certifications are not required. If questionable, ask the individual what task(s) the animal is trained to assist with or perform. Verification of training may be in the form of self-attestation, either written or verbal. Document the self-attestation in case comments.

Request verification, in the form of receipts, for expenses related to securing and maintaining a service animal. Allowable expenses include only the following:

·       the cost to obtain the service animal (the animal must already be trained in order to allow this as an expense);

·       special equipment, such as halters, collars, or vests and coats that identify the animal as a service animal;

·       food; and

·       veterinary bills.

The cost of items such as toys, clothing or equipment that does not identify the animal as a service animal, dishes, grooming services or supplies, and bedding are not allowable.

This policy applies only to service animals specially trained to assist the disabled individual. Expenses related to a companion or emotional support animal are not allowable, even if the companion or support animal has been recommended by a healthcare professional.

If you have any questions about any information pertaining to service animals and allowable expenses, please complete a SNAP policy question form and send it to bfapolicy@dhhs.nh.gov.

NEW HEIGHTS & NH EASY SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

There are no changes to New HEIGHTS or NH EASY.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

No forms have been revised as a result of this policy update.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

Section 603.09            Medical Deduction

Glossary                      S-Words

IMPLEMENTATION

This policy change is effective immediately. The manual page will be updated effective 02/01/2023.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

No special client notification is planned or needed.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the Online Manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for BFA policy releases. This SR, and revised Online Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the Online Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sr_htm/sr.htm, effective 02/01/23.

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