What if I am elderly or disabled and live with other people but I cannot buy and cook my own food?

There are two options that can help households get SNAP/food stamp benefits, even when they are unable to prepare their own meals:

Option 1: If you are disabled, and your disability makes you unable to purchase and prepare your own food, you can get SNAP/food stamps separate from the people you live with— even if they shop and cook food for you. This option is available as long as the majority (more than half) of the food you consume is purchased and prepared for you separately. Unlike Option 2, you do not have to be both elderly and disabled and you do not need to get proof of the income of the people you live with. However, if the person buying and cooking food for you is your spouse, or your parent if you are under age 22, you cannot get separate benefits.

There are many reasons why persons with disabilities may have meals prepared separately including where persons with disabilities have special diets or food preferences, have meals at different times from others, need to manage their income and expenses separate from others. Having a disability that prevents you from buying and cooking food for yourself does prevent you from getting your own SNAP/food stamp benefits.

Example

Thomas is a 35-year-old disabled adult. He shares an apartment with a roommate, Joe. Because Thomas is unable to buy and cook his own food due to his disability, Joe does that for him. Thomas gives Joe money to buy food and Joe cooks it for him. Joe also cooks and prepares food for himself separately. Sometimes they share a meal, but the majority of meals Thomas consumes at home (more than half) are purchased and prepared separately. Joe could also be Thomas's authorized representative and use his EBT card to purchase food for Thomas. Either way, Thomas can be his own SNAP/food stamp household and not require Joe to participate in the program or provide information on his income and assets.

Option 2: If you are 60 or older and have a permanent disability that prevents you from buying and preparing food, you may be able to get SNAP/food stamps separately for yourself even when you live with people who buy and all the food for the household together. To qualify for a separate SNAP/food stamp household you must be a permanently disabled person, over age 59 and the gross income of the other people living with you must be less than 165 % of the federal poverty level (FPL). 106 C.M.R. § 361.200(B)(4). See Appendix B: Income and Benefits Standards, Chart 5.

Example

Bertha Doe is a 75-year-old disabled woman. She receives $800 per month in Social Security benefits. She lives with her 40-year-old daughter Mary and her two kids. Mary's gross income is $1,200 per month and there is no other countable income in the household. Mary purchases food and prepares the meals for the entire family, including Bertha. Since Bertha is both disabled and over age 59 years of age, she can still be a separate SNAP/food stamp household because her daughter's gross income is below 165 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three (Mary and her two children). Mary also has the option of applying for SNAP/food stamps for herself and her children. The two separate households will receive more in benefits than a combined household. If Bertha's husband happens to live in the home, he and Bertha would have to be in the same SNAP/food stamp household.

In Option 1, DTA should accept a self-declaration that you are unable to purchase and prepare your meals separately but your roommate or assistant provides that service with you. Note, if your spouse or children under again 22 live with you, they must be in same household with you as described in Who cannot be a separate SNAP/food stamp household?.

Additional Policy Guidance on Separate Household Status