Companion Coding is used to connect two or more cases belonging to members of the same household. An advantage for companion coding is that it reduces the number of tabs that need to be coded for any case action that affects both cases.

There can only be one Primary Case, but there can be several secondary cases. The Primary Case is the SNAP payee’s case. The Secondary Case (or cases) is the case in which another SNAP household member receives State Supplemental Payment (SSP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid or Child Care. This household member’s information and income is entered and updated on the Secondary case instead of the Primary case.

There is never a reason to create a companion case for a one-person household.

For additional information regarding determining whether or not cases are considered Primary or Secondary, refer to SNAP: Companion Coding.

Another example of companion cases is when each member of a couple qualifies to receive a State Supplemental Payment. If the couple does not receive SNAP, the cases are considered to be Financial Companions.

For additional information on companion coding financial cases with SSP, refer to article ABD: How to Code for Eligible Couple (State Supplemental Payment)

If the couple is eligible for SNAP, one spouse’s case will be the Primary case where the certification of SNAP will be done. The other spouse’s case will be the Secondary case and the cases are considered to be Financial and SNAP companion cases.

If some household members are eligible for TANF and some are eligible for the State Supplemental Payment, separate cases will be needed. As SSI income does not count for TANF, they are NOT considered Financial companion cases. If the household receives SNAP, the cases can be set up as SNAP companions.

There is currently no process in place for Child Care companion cases.  If a Child Care recipient has SSI, that recipient’s child care authorization may be on the SSP (‘B’ or ‘D’) case. The household can decide to put the child care authorization on the SSP case, or include the child that receives SSI into the payee’s child care case for the entire household. Sometimes it is more beneficial to the client to include the child who receives SSI on the for the entire child care household.

For instructions on FACS coding for companion cases refer to article FACS: Companion Case Coding Examples