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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides low-income Americans with financial assistance to buy groceries, and many older Americans rely on it. <\/span>However, only about a third of eligible seniors participate in the program, perhaps from a mistaken understanding of who is eligible and how much assistance is available. <\/span>Seniors need to know about SNAP’s deductions for medical expenses.<\/p>\n SNAP makes sense for many New York seniors, especially because the state allows individuals to have savings and still qualify for benefits. <\/span>A household with an older adult or a disabled person must have a net income of 100 percent or less of the federal poverty level. <\/span>In 2013, that is $11,172 for a single person. <\/span>However, net income is gross income minus all allowable deductions. <\/span>There is a standard deduction for each household, plus deductions for housing, utilities and medical costs. <\/span>Seniors can often benefit greatly from the medical deduction.<\/p>\n