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Revision 13-4; Effective October 1, 2013
B—431 Definition of Elderly
Revision 01-1; Effective January 1, 2001
SNAP
An elderly person is someone who is age 60 or older as of the last day of the month.
B—432 Definition of Disability
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
SNAP
The following people are considered to have a disability:
- People approved for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security disability or blindness payments, or SSI Medicaid only.
- Veterans who receive Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits because they are rated a 100 percent service-connected disability or who, according to the VA, need regular aid and attendance or are permanently housebound.
- Surviving spouses of deceased veterans who meet one of the following criteria according to the VA:
- need regular aid and attendance,
- are permanently housebound, or
- are approved for benefits from the VA because of the veteran's death and could be considered to have a permanent disability for Social Security purposes. (See B-432.1, Social Security's Criteria for Disability.)
- Surviving children (any age) of a deceased veteran who the VA:
- determines are permanently incapable of self-support, or
- approves for benefits because of the veteran's death and could be considered to have a permanent disability for Social Security purposes. (See B-432.1.)
- People receiving disability retirement benefits from any government agency for a disability that could be considered permanent for Social Security purposes.
- People receiving Railroad Retirement Disability who are also covered by Medicare.
B—432.1 Social Security's Criteria for Disability
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
SNAP
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers that any of the following 12 conditions result in permanent disability:
- Permanent loss of use of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot.
- Amputation of leg at hip.
- Amputation of leg or foot because of diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular diseases.
- Total deafness, not correctable by surgery or hearing aid.
- Statutory blindness, unless caused by cataracts or detached retina.
- IQ of 59 or less, established after the person becomes age 16.
- Spinal cord or nerve root lesions resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Multiple sclerosis in which there is damage to the nervous system caused by scattered areas of inflammation. The inflammation recurs and has progressed to varied interference with the function of the nervous system, including severe muscle weakness, paralysis, and vision and speech defects.
- Muscular dystrophy with irreversible wasting of the muscles, impairing the ability to use the arms or legs.
- Impaired renal function caused by chronic renal disease, resulting in severely reduced function which may require dialysis or kidney transplant.
- Amputation of a limb of a person at least age 55.
- AIDS progressed so that it results in extensive and/or recurring physical or mental impairment.
If the individual already receives SSI or Social Security blindness or disability payments, or the disability is obvious to the advisor (such as amputation of leg at hip), the advisor does not require additional verification. Other conditions may require the opinion of a physician. Advisors use Form H1836-A, Medical Release/Physician's Statement, in these instances.
B—433 Special Provisions for Households with Elderly Members or Members with a Disability
Revision 20-3; Effective July 1, 2020
SNAP
Households containing members who are elderly or who have a disability receive special treatment. The special provisions are:
- exemption from the gross income test;
- allowance of a deduction for medical expenses when the medical expenses exceed a total of $35 per month for all eligible members who are elderly or who have a disability; and
- allowance of an uncapped excess shelter deduction for the full monthly amount that exceeds 50 percent of the household's monthly income after the allowable deductions.
Exception: Households with members who are disqualified for not meeting SSN requirements, alien status requirements or for reaching ABAWD time limits are ineligible for an uncapped excess shelter deduction. Household members who are disqualified for another reason are eligible for the uncapped excess shelter deduction when there is a member of the household who is elderly or has a disability.
Related Policy
Income Limits and Eligibility Tests, A-1341
Medical Deduction, A-1428
Shelter Costs, A-1429
Deduction Amounts, C-121.1
B—434 Verification Requirements
Revision 20-3; Effective July 1, 2020
SNAP
Verify that a household member:
- is age 60 or older; or
- meets the disability criteria in B-432, Definition of Disability.
Related Policy
Questionable Information, C-920
Providing Verification, C-930
B—435 Documentation Requirements
Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015
SNAP
Advisors must document:
- the reason the individual is considered to have a disability (see B-432, Definition of Disability);
- how age was verified (see B-431, Definition of Elderly); and
- how disability was verified (see B-432).
Related Policy
Documentation, C-940