Policy 340:50-7-22(9)
The earned income of children age 17 and younger is exempt as long as they are under the parental control of an adult household member and are still in high school. When a child turns 18 in the month of certification, his or her income is counted the following month.
In order to have the income count for children no longer in high school, change the Education Status, Block F35, to “discontinued” and the Educational Level, Block F35, to the last grade completed and the system will allow the income to count.
If the child is turning 18 in the middle of the certification period, the income is not counted until the mid-certification renewal (MCR) month or next recertification action, whichever comes first. If the inclusion of this income would cause the household to exceed income guidelines for the household size, then the income would be considered at that time. The case will remain open, and the household will be issued the minimum benefit allotment for one or two person households or $0 for 3 or more person households.
Example 1:
Client’s son will turn 18 on July 17th and is enrolled for his senior year in the fall. The household’s SNAP mid-cert renewal is due in June for July benefits. Will the income be added for July?
You will process the MCR without the income of the 18 year old. Send an ADM-92 and request the income verification. If it is not provided, you will NOT take any action.
Example 2:
Client is a 16 year old high school student who works at a local diner. She lives with her 19 year old boyfriend. Is her income exempt?
No, the 16 year old is not under the parental control of her boyfriend and her income is countable toward SNAP benefits.
Example 3:
We have a client whose daughter is 17 and has dropped out of school in the 11th grade. The daughter is currently employed at the mall part-time. How is her income considered?
Her income would be coded to the case and the Education Status Block F35, would be updated to “discontinued” and Education Level Block F35, would be updated to “Grade 10.” The income will count against the household’s SNAP benefits at the next MCR or Re-Certification action, whichever is first.
Example 4:
Our client’s daughter will turn 18 on Oct. 9th and is currently a high school senior. The household is due for an Oct. Re-Certification. Will we add the income for Oct. or November?
Using unfinished issuance, you will add the income for November. The income will be countable effective November 1st.
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