For the food stamp program, Deductions are used to calculate a household’s monthly food stamp benefit. This calculation is done by subtracting a series of dollar deductions from the household’s total cash monthly income, so as to better reflect the amount of money the household has available for food spending. Food stamp deductions include: a standard deduction that is subtracted from income for all recipients, an earned income deduction reflecting taxes and work expenses, a deduction for dependent care expenses related to work or training (up to certain limits), a deduction for child support payments, a deduction for medical expenses above a set amount per month (only available to elderly and disabled recipients), and a deduction for excessively high shelter expenses.