Food Stamps

The Food and Nutrition Service, a federal agency in charge of establishing policies for food stamp programs, loosens eligibility criteria for applicants with disabilities. Among the pertinent disability categories is one for veterans who have total disabilities, are permanently housebound or need regular aid and attendance. The Veterans Administration defines total disability as a condition that renders a veteran unable to find or keep gainful employment with a 100 percent permanent disability rating.

Income Requirements

Most families applying to the food stamp program -- known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at the federal level -- must have both gross income and net income under the specified limits, which may change from year to year based on cost of living increases. Households that include veterans with disabilities have to qualify only on the basis of net income, which state food stamp agencies calculate by making specified deductions from gross income. The net income limit for the purpose of food stamp applications is equal to the federal poverty level for a given household size. Among the income deductions for families that include a disabled veteran is out-of-pocket medical expenses for the disabled person in excess of $35 per month.

Resource Limits

Households with a disabled veteran have an easier time meeting financial resource limits for food stamp eligibility. The standard limit of $2,000 rises to $3,250 for families with a disabled person or a senior 60 years or older, at the time of publication, which is subject to periodic changes. Countable resources include bank account funds and some licensed vehicles. A licensed vehicle does not count as a resource if the family uses it to transport a disabled veteran or anyone else with a disability.

Other Considerations

If a disabled veteran receives Supplemental Security Income benefits, his financial resources and income do not factor into his family's monetary eligibility for food stamps. If the veteran receives SSI and lives alone, he is automatically eligible. The only exception is for California SSI recipients, who are not eligible for food stamps but instead receive a state-funded supplement to their federal SSI benefits. Veterans with disabilities do not need to meet work search requirements that apply to able-bodied adults, who risk losing food stamp eligibility if they do not find work or enroll in a training program as instructed by their local agency. Because the laws change from time to time, and if you are unsure how to proceed, veterans can contact a nonprofit organization, such as Disabled American Veterans, for free assistance or advice.