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Just when you thought folks were finally getting ahead…. SNAP falls a little behind. It’s COLA time.

 

SSA  2% COLA:

Thousands of low income seniors and persons with disabilities started receiving a 2% Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) this month. This 2% increase affects both Social Security “Retirement, Survivor’s and Disability Insurance” (RSDI) and “Supplemental Security Income”(SSI) benefits.  That’s the good news.  The not so good news is that the COLA will likely impact their SNAP benefits, and possibly their rent if in public or subsidized housing.  As a very general rule, every $3 increase in net income causes SNAP to go down by about $1/month.

 

DTA has been sending notices to thousands of Massachusetts SNAP households impacted by the COLA. Your clients have likely received them and may find this confusing. DTA has also posted information on how the COLA impacts SNAP here.  For households getting the minimum $15 SNAP, there will be no decrease. For everyone else, it depends on the SNAP math.

What you can do: Screen for medical expenses and other deductions!  

​Any elder or disabled SNAP household not getting the maximum SNAP benefit should be screened for all deductions, ​especially out-of-pocket ​un-reimbursed ​medical expenses​ or adult dependent care costs​.  ​And double check the math for homeowners who may not have claimed all their home ownership costs (mortgage, insurance, real estate taxes) for the SNAP math.

 

Here’s some tools you can use:

​Did you know, ​only 15% of elder and disabled SNAP households who are eligible for the medical expense deduction actually claim it.  Even individuals who have MassHealth or ​Medicare usually have out-of-pocket costs for over-the-counter (“medicine chest”) items, co-payments or have to travel to the doctor, pharmacy or other health provider​ using their car or public transportation​.  All ​medical related transportation costs, including ​trips to the doctor or pharmacy at the federal mileage rate, ​can be claimed toward the medical expense deduction.

If you have questions about how to maximize SNAP benefits for low income seniors and persons with disabilities, please contact MLRI’s AmeriCorps member Wes Chrabasz at wchrabasz@mlri.org

 

Reminder re Upcoming SNAP Events:

  • DTA ABAWD Webinar:  Friday, January 19th from 10 to Noon.  Contact Karen Driscoll at DTA for details: karen.driscoll@state.ma.us
  • Boston SNAP Coalition Meeting, Tuesday, January 23rd, 10 to Noon at St Francis House in Boston
  • SNAP 101 Basic Benefits Training (and release of 2018 SNAP Guide) in Boston, Thursday, January 25th. Register HERE.

Massachusetts Councils
on Aging

116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306
Easthampton, MA 01027
 
Telephone: 413-527-6425
Fax: 413-527-7138