02/18/15
Summary
- After reviewing our annual report on the Standard Medical Deduction Demonstration Project, USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has determined that the Standard Deduction amounts require a revision in order to offset the increased federal costs of applying the Medical Standard to households whose excess medical expenses are more than $35 but less than the Medical Standard.
- Effective March 1, 2015, the Standard Deduction amounts for all SNAP units is reduced by an additional $3. The new Standard Deduction amounts by household size are as indicated in the chart below.
- System changes in IES, AIS, ACM and IPACS are effective 02/17/15.
- System changes to the ACM Overissuance/Underissuance Module and the ABE and Web SNAP calculators are effective 03/01/15.
- The system will centrally recalculate March SNAP benefit amounts using the revised Standard Deduction amounts for all active SNAP units on the night of 02/17/15. Customers will not be sent a notice about this change.
- The Program Standards chart WAG 25-03-02 is revised with the new Standard Deduction amounts effective 03/01/15.
- This release also includes 2 manual pages inadvertently omitted with MR#14.24: Change in SNAP Income and Deductions Standards, Benefit Amounts, Utility Standards October 2014.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) authorized DHS to operate the Standard Medical Deduction Demonstration Project in 2011. Implementing the project required that we reduce the Standard Deduction for all SNAP units by $4 to offset the increased federal costs of applying the Standard Medical Deduction.
After reviewing our annual report, FNS has determined that the Standard Deduction requires a further revision in order for us to maintain cost neutrality for the project. As a result, we are reducing the Standard Deduction amounts by an additional $3 monthly for all SNAP units.
New Standard Deduction Amounts
Effective 03/01/15, the new Standard Deductions by SNAP Unit Size are as follows:
| SNAP Unit Size |
Standard Deduction Amount |
| 1-3 Persons |
$148 |
| 4 Persons |
$158 |
| 5 Persons |
$186 |
| 6+ Persons |
$214 |
System Changes
- System changes in IES, AIS, ACM and IPACS are effective 02/17/15.
- System changes to the ACM Overissuance/Underissuance Module and the ABE and Web SNAP calculators are effective 03/01/15.
- Active SNAP cases will have March benefits centrally recalculated using the revised Standard Deductions on the night of 02/17/15. Customers will not be sent a notice about this change.
Program Standards Chart Updated
The Program Standards chart WAG 25-03-02 is revised with the new Standard Deduction amounts.
Miscellaneous Change
This release includes 2 manual pages inadvertently omitted from MR#14.24: Change in SNAP Income and Deductions Standards, Benefit Amounts, Utility Standards October 2014.
MANUAL REVISIONS
WAG 13-01-04
WAG 25-03-02
WAG 25-03-02 (pdf)
WAG 25-03-02 (1)
WAG 25-06-05
WAG 25-06-05-d
[signed copy on file]
Greg Bassi
Acting Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
