Policy: 340:50-7-22
Policy: 340:50-7-46(b)(2)(4)

The following are examples of Special Pay:

Example 1:

Client has provided a paycheck that indicates he has received advances on his wages and will not “actually” be paid any money this month. How would this month’s income be considered?

Wages withheld at the request of the employee are to be considered income of the household in the month the wages would otherwise be paid.

Example 2:

Client is a waitress and her paychecks show “allocated tips.” Should that amount be included in gross earnings?

No. Allocated tips are NOT counted as income as they are calculated by the employer by reporting purposes only. Client’s receiving tips should keep accurate, daily records of the actual tips they receive. The reported tips will be added to the regular hourly gross wages shown on the check stub to determine the total gross wages.

Example 3:

Are uniform allowances considered as income if the employer reports it to the IRS as part of the gross income?

IRS reporting of uniform allowances are not the issued for food stamp policy. Uniform allowances are excluded from the gross income if they are allowances or reimbursements for expenses the employee has incurred for uniforms required for their job. The employee does not necessarily have to claim the expenses in order to have them titled as allowances.

Example 4:

Client is in the military and receives an allotment for living expenses because he lives off post. This is in addition to the regular LES military income. Is this considered as income to the household or subtracted as payment for housing expense?

The allotment is considered as earned income and the household is also allowed a shelter deduction.

Example 5:

Client received a re-enlistment bonus of $8,000 in 2012. To receive the bonus she was required to remain active duty for two years. She was discharged on 03/20/13 due to a pregnancy. She is now required to pay back the entire bonus. She currently earns $210.64 per month for being in the reserves. She does not receive any of this as it is being withheld until the bonus is repaid. Would we consider this as income for SNAP or would this not be considered since it is income being withheld to repay the same source?

The money will count as income to the household. This would not be considered money being withheld to repay the same source.

Example 6:

Client is the manager of an apartment complex. Client is paid $11.44 mileage every two weeks to cover trips to post office, bank, etc. Then if she travels out of town, she files for mileage reimbursement. How do we consider the mileage pay?

You need to ask the client and / or the employer if the client receives a gain from this reimbursement. Even though she might not go to the post office or bank in any particular 2-week period, she may have “extra” trips related to work during the same month that pay period falls. The key is to determine if this money represents a gain to her. If it does, then we must include it as income. If it doesn’t then we don’t include it as income.

Example 7:

Client started working for the Ticket to Work Program through the Social Security Office. Is the income received from the Ticket to Work Program countable for SNAP?

Income from the Ticket to Work Program is countable income.

Example 8:

Is income from the Transition to Work Program received by clients from Voc. Rehab., countable income for SNAP?

This would be treated as any other income in that any unearned income the client might receive is counted and any earned income for a person age 18 and over is counted. If the person is under 18 and still in high school, the earned income would not count.

Example 9:

How would we consider the income of clergy when a parsonage (housing) is provided in addition to income?

We count the earned income and then case note the shelter is paid for by the employer. Be sure to check to see if any utilities are the responsibility of the individual.

Example 10:

How would we consider the income of an individual who receives short-term disability income with a portion of that going to an attorney?

The full amount is considered. Payments to an attorney cannot be disregarded.